A tragic incident occurred on Friday, October 4, 2024, at Amazing Grace Estate, Elepe community, Ikorodu, Lagos, where a 30-year-old man, Motunrayo Olaniyi, allegedly stabbed his six-month pregnant wife, Olajumoke, and set her body on fire. The couple had been married for just three months before the tragedy unfolded.
Neighbors reported that the couple had been engaged in a heated disagreement that escalated into violence. Olaniyi accused his wife of infidelity, claiming that his younger brother was the father of her unborn child, a charge Olajumoke firmly denied. According to witnesses, tension had been brewing in the marriage shortly after their traditional wedding, with Olaniyi repeatedly accusing his wife of promiscuity.
A neighbor, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that earlier in the week, Olaniyi had physically attacked his wife in the presence of her mother. Olajumoke's mother had taken Olaniyi to a church for deliverance, suspecting that his behavior might be influenced by a spiritual problem. Unfortunately, this intervention did not prevent the subsequent violent incident.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin, confirmed the arrest of the suspect. He explained that the Ikorodu police division received a distress call on Friday regarding a domestic altercation. During the scuffle, Olaniyi allegedly stabbed his wife to death, locked her body inside their apartment, and set it on fire. He also inflicted injuries on himself, though they were not life-threatening.
Police detectives arrived at the scene, extinguished the fire, and discovered Olajumoke's lifeless body with stab wounds in her abdomen. Olaniyi, who had sustained injuries, was treated at a nearby hospital before being taken into police custody. An autopsy will be conducted on Olajumoke’s body as investigations continue into the horrific crime.
This tragic case has shocked the community, leaving many to wonder how such a promising young family could end in such a catastrophic manner.
