There was confusion in Ezinihitte Mbaise Council Area of Imo State when Mr. Louis Onwumere, an 80-year-old grand-father, poured petrol on his family house before allegedly striking a match and burning himself to death.
It was gathered that the grandfather, described by one of the community members as a “strange man”, retired many years ago as a staff of School of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Although members of the community described the ugly incident as an abomination and first of its kind in the village, they could not understand why he decided to set himself ablaze.
In a strange move, some members of the village (Umualika) have obtained affidavit from court exonerating them from having any previous misunderstanding which might be linked to the tragic incident. The Affidavit have been submitted to the police at Ezinihitte Police Division in Ezinihitte Mbaise Council Area of the state.
The people allegedly told the police, “We are not suspecting anybody and we don’t want trouble.”
The deceased lived alone in the house as his wife still resides in Port Harcourt where they lived during his service years.
The Imo State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident.