I regretted my action, says grandmother who set son, family ablaze

*2 grandchildren survive, responding to treatment — Police

Fresh facts have emerged on why the grandmother, identified as lforiti Oloro, set ablaze her son’s entire family members, over allegation of starvation, in Apomu community, Akure, Ondo State capital.

Police source told Vanguard that the suspect, who regretted her action, claimed that she actually wanted to kill her daughter in-law, Rachael, not her son, Victor, and grandchildren, Toluwani and Blessing.

She reportedly claimed that she had an axe to grind with the daughter in-law, who was actually the one who starved her of food in the house.

According to police source, the suspect, during interrogation, regretted killing her son alongside the wife, saying she over reacted to the ill treatment she received from her daughter in-law.

The police source said: “She expressed regret that her son also died in the inferno and that if she knew this would happen, she would have found a way to ensure that her son did not sleep in the same room with the wife that ill-fated day.

“She regretted not separating the son before setting the rest of the family ablaze.” 

2 grandchildren survive, responding to treatment — Police

Meanwhile, the police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said the two grandchildren didn’t die in the inferno.

She said: “Only the couple died in the inferno. The two grandchildren were injured but they are alive and responding to treatment at the Federal Medical Centre FMC, Owo.

“The old woman has been evacuated from the burnt house by her other son and the police. She too was affected by the inferno and receiving treatment at the FMC, in Owo.”

It will be recalled that the suspect, who resided with her son in the same house, complained that she was starved of food.

She reportedly set the house ablaze while the family members were asleep at 2a.m., killing the couple and injuring the two grandchildren, who were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owo.

The suspect reportedly got some dry palm fronds and the little petrol her son kept in a gallon (for generator), spread it around the house and then put fire to it.