An Ondo State man, Ojo Joseph, has been picked up by the police for allegedly setting five of his stepchildren on fire.
The Ondo State Police Command said the incident took place on Sunday.
The police said the 64-year-old Joseph committed the act after a quarrel with his wife, who is the mother of the victims.
The couple have a set of twins.
It was learnt that the suspect poured petrol into the children’s room when they were asleep and set it on fire.
One of the stepchildren died in the fire, while the mother and the four other children sustained varying degrees of injury.
They were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
The state Police spokesperson, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, revealed that Joseph was immediately picked up after the matter was reported to the police.
According to Mrs. Odunlami, the police was trying to establish the reason behind the suspect’s act, adding that the man is detention.
“The suspect will be charged after investigation,” she said
