By Godwin Edeh
A 38-year-old man, Mr Nicodemus Nomyange, Manager of Feed Africa, a popular spot along Edward Ujege Street, High Level, Makurdi, Benue State has set himself and his lover, Miss Shiminenge Pam ablaze.
The incidence occurred Saturday evening, at the residence of the late Miss Pam, located at No. 5, Felix Ogah Street, off Inikpi Street, High Level, Makurdi.
The Voice gathered that, the two deceased lovers, started having issues when the lady told her lover that she wanted to marry another man, thereby wanting an end to the relationship.
According to sources, this infuriated Mr Nomyange who since then, threatened Shiminenge and assaulted her severally.
According to neighbors, who spoke to _The Voice_ on grounds of anonymity, he eventually stopped visiting her, paving way for the new man (unnamed) to freely come to the house without restriction.
It was further gathered that, to ensure the continuation of the relationship, Mr Nomyange who hailed from Mbaton, Abeda in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State and married with three (3) children, divorced his wife but his lover was hell bent on marrying her new found lover, despite all he had done to pacify her, including paying for her present accommodation.
However, the issue reached a climax when “Nico”, as the late Nomyange was popularly called, came to her house with 10 litres of fuel and started sprinkling it round the room, despite pleas from his lover.
Witnesses account say he vowed to kill both of them for her refusal to marry him, which prompted her to raise alarm. However, before help could come, he locked the door and set ablaze the one-room apartment with both of them inside.
According to eye witnesses, who spoke to our correspondent, it took the combined efforts of both residents and neighbors to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to other apartments, with some of the residents still counting their losses as at the time of filing this report.
The landlord of the house, Mr Charles Akimbo, described the incident as unfortunate, as according to him, “Shiminenge did not have any problem with anybody, since she moved in, more than a year ago.”
He appealed to government and spirited individuals to assist him repair the damaged structures, as that is his only source of livelihood.
Both men of the Benue State Police Command and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had variously deposited the two corpses at different hospitals in Makurdi.
Mr Nomyange who died immediately, was deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi while
Shiminenge was taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where she passed on, after efforts to revive her failed.
The late Miss Pam who hailed from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue was untill her death, a staff nurse at Lobi Hospital, along Ugbokolo Street, High Level, Makurdi and was said to be preparing for her 35th birthday celebration in December, along with her wedding, before the tragic incident and her subsequent death.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Police Command, DSP Catherine Anene confirmed the incident and said investigation is on-going and relations of the family have been contacted.
