In a heart-wrenching incident, Saheed Ganiyu, a 47-year-old vulcanizer in Abuja, allegedly set his girlfriend, Esther, on fire during an argument. Ganiyu denies the accusation, claiming it was an accident.

The argument occurred on December 29, 2024, at Jabi Motor Park, where Ganiyu reportedly saw Esther drinking alcohol. Displeased, he tried to stop her, which led to a struggle. During this confrontation, petrol from a bottle Ganiyu held in his armpit spilled on Esther’s dress. Later, as he tried to light a cigarette, her petrol-soaked dress caught fire, resulting in severe burns.

Esther, who is currently at the National Hospital in Abuja, is fighting for her life. Her family is struggling to cover the costs of her treatment, which doctors estimate will take at least two months. Esther’s uncle, a retired military officer, revealed that she had faced challenges in life, including a leg deformity caused by a past injury.

Ganiyu insists he never meant to harm Esther. He described her as the love of his life, saying he cared for her deeply and couldn’t eat unless she ate first. He admitted being frustrated by her drinking habits but claims the fire was a tragic accident.

“I love her so much. I didn’t know the petrol dripped on her dress during the struggle,” he explained. Ganiyu added that he had planned to buy her clothes for the New Year and blamed the incident on a misunderstanding.

The police were alerted to the scene by a distress call and found a mob beating Ganiyu. Both he and Esther were rushed to the hospital. Ganiyu was discharged on December 31 and taken into custody.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, emphasized the importance of managing anger and resolving disputes peacefully. Ganiyu will face court proceedings after the investigation concludes.