A landlord in the Idumota, Lagos Island area of Lagos State, Sola Solomon, has allegedly set fire to one of his tenants
The house and the victim
A 67-year old landlord in in the Idumota, Lagos Island area of Lagos State, named Sola Solomon has reportedly set one of his tenant named Abeeb with an alias Ogbon on fire after bathing him with petrol. The victim fought to put out the fire and the wicked landlord also pushed him down from the top floor of the three-storey building.
According to Punch Metro, the poor tenant landed badly as the fire ravaged his skin. This led to his eventual death after several efforts to save his life.
Investigations revealed Abeeb had just spent a period of 5-months in the house located at Iga Idunganran Street, Idumota. Sources revealed the usage of the toilet in the compound caused the fracas.
A tenant in the house, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the quarrel had been settled in the evening and she had pleaded with both parties to maintain the peace.
She said, “Before the incident of yesterday (Monday), there has been a quarrel in the house over the use of the toilet.
“Everybody had complained that the landlord always messed up the toilet after use.
“But yesterday, he had another quarrel with Abeeb over the use of the toilet. During the argument, he threatened to set the man ablaze; the man also dared him.
“I called Abeeb and calmed him down; I also called the landlord and appealed to him to let the matter go, and he said he had forgiven Abeeb.”
It was learnt that the landlord, however, was sighted by residents later that evening carrying a jerrycan, saying he was going to buy fuel.
The Ondo State indigene was alleged to have bought the fuel and waited patiently in his room till the victim returned from a football viewing centre where he had gone to watch an English league match between Arsenal and Liverpool football clubs.
It was learnt that around 12am, the landlord wet the passageway of the house and knocked on the door of the deceased.
Another tenant, who asked not to be named, said the victim’s wife pleaded with him not to go out.
The continuous rap on the door was said to have forced Abeeb out to confront the intruder, only to see the landlord with a container of fuel.
He said, “As he stepped out of the house, the landlord poured the petrol on him. Before Abeeb could snatch the jerrycan from him, the landlord had ignited fire with a lighter in his hand.
“Abeeb struggled to put out the fire, but the landlord pushed him down from the third floor. He fell to the ground and died.”
Our correspondent gathered that the quick intervention of security guards in the area stopped the fire from escalating.
The other tenants in the house were said to have abandoned the building and fled for fear of being killed.
Policemen from the Adeniji Adele Police Division later arrived at the scene to remove Abeeb’s corpse. The police also took the landlord, who sustained burns injuries to the hospital.
A resident, John Ameh, said the landlord was initially rejected at the Lagos Island General Hospital and was taken to the Gbagada General Hospital.
The former occupant of Abeeb’s room, Ruka Rufai, regretted passing the room to the deceased, saying she left the room due to constant threat to her life from the landlord.
She said, “I left that the room about five months ago. The landlord threatened me, so I decided to vacate the room. Abeeb pleaded with me that he needed the accommodation. Now, he has been killed.”