The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Deji Adenuga, an ex-convict who set his ex-girlfriend, Titi Sanumi’s home ablaze, killing eight members of her family.
Reports gathered by 9News Nigeria confirmed that the culprit, after his then girlfriend, Titi Sunmonu had threatened to leave the relationship, took a jerrycan laden with petroleum in the midnight, gained entrance into the building, poured the petroleum content in the house while they were asleep and set the home ablaze.
Adenuga, best known as ‘Ojuode’, had escaped from the town after perpetrating the alleged act. However, after an intense manhunt by the Police, he was arrested on Monday evening in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, where he was wandering under a bridge.
Speaking with reporters at the headquarters of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure on Tuesday, Adenuga said he burnt the family of his ex-girlfriend after she aborted a pregnancy she had for him.
He claimed he had invested heavily in the lady before she jilted him based on her elder sister’s advice.
He narrated how both of them had been having relationship issues, and were always ending up at the police station for settlement.
“What actually happened was that Titi aborted the four-month-old pregnancy that she had for me while we were dating each other,” he said in an emotion-laden tone.
“Though, we have been having issues in recent times, I have spent a lot of money on her. I gave her a sum of N30,000 to start a petty trade, as she was selling sachet water. Later, I gave her a sum of N25,000 to keep for me, making N55,000 but I think she spent the money lavishly because she was staying with me.
“And while she was staying with me, I spent money on her because there is this her elder sister called Jumoke who used to collect money from me. The elder sister was always controlling her and teaching her what to do, and the issue became open that we dragged one another to the police station.
“We later resolved all the issues but surprisingly, Titi packed her property out my house, saying her sister said I should come and pay N20,000 for her dowry before she would return.
“I begged them to give me time to look for money, and do the needful but they refused and started playing me, having spent so much for her. I went to the station to report what she and her elder sister were doing to me but the Police saw it as a small issue so they settled it.
“After we left the station, they began to abuse me and make jest of me, saying I was a failure and not even a man for dragging them to the police station. In fact, they threatened me. They said they would deal with me and even kill me if I did not desist from reporting them on the streets. I saw those words as big threats.
“That same day, I planned to take an action and I went to the gas station at night, bought fuel and stormed their house and poured petrol inside the room while I ran away.”
Undie Adie, Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, said that Adenuga was apprehended following “intense manhunt and investigations” by the Police.
“He was arrested in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State. The girl whom which said jilted her is the only one that survived. She is still receiving treatment in the hospital.” the Police commissioner said.
