Man sets wife ablaze for not delivering male children(Graphic Photo)

A 35-year-old man and medicine dealer,  Paul Mkpuke from Onuojgon Alike Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is  in police net for  setting his wife, Monica, ablaze, because she’s been delivering only female children.

The man had earlier sent his wife back to her parents, a source said.  But  not satisfied with that, he allegedly mobilized suspected hoodlums whom he led to his wife’s parents’ house with the intention to kill her.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Chris Anyanwu who confirmed the incident said Mkpuke and his boys laid ambush for Monica at night waiting for her to come out to ease herself and when she did, three men  rushed and grabbed her while one of them slapped her repeatedly before forcing her onto a standby motorcycle.

He said   when they got to a particular bridge, Monica was brought down from the motorcycle and  her wrapper was removed and used to  blindfold her. Subsequently, they poured  fuel on her  and set her ablaze.

The PPRO noted  when the hoodlums were convinced she had been severely burnt and may not survive, they abandoned her but after some time, Monica regained little strength and rolled into a nearby pond and subsequently struggled her way into  an uncompleted building to hide because she was naked  until a farmer discovered her.

Monica was later rushed to Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki where she underwent surgery and now convalescing.

When Sunday Sun visited her, she was still too weak and could not talk but her younger brother, Sunday Nwigbo who was with her at the hospital narrated her ordeal in  her husband’s household where she had spent  12 years.

He said  the man impregnated his sister when she was in secondary school at Ikwo and continued living with her, adding that Mkpuke had not even paid her bride price but often threatened to kill her whenever the issue was raised and for not delivering  a male child.

Nwigbo further revealed that Mkpuke had earlier sent his sister packing in March 2014 declaring that he was fed-up with her  and the case was reported to the Family Law Centre of the wife of the governor for intervention.

The PPRO said  the suspect had been charged to court for prosecution.