A pastor and his female assistant, on Saturday night, were burnt to death when a 40-year-old lover, identified as Etifa Obukulubu, set on fire the home of his girlfriend over suspicion of cheating at Igbogene community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

 

While his girlfriend was lucky to escape the attack, the pastor, working with the New Baptist Church, and a female assistant were burnt to death.

It was gathered that the exit door out of the house was jammed from outside when the targeted girlfriend, identified as Wilberforce, reportedly vacated her home for the deceased pastor and his assistant who came from outside the state on an evangelical mission. Attempts by neighbours to rescue those inside the building failed.

 

Residents of Igbogene told newsmen that the suspect, who is a commercial driver, had waited for his girlfriend to come home, “but on sighting her with a man and another girl, he got angry and set the house ablaze. He waited for them to enter the house. And use fuel to set fire around the house. He did not know that his girlfriend had left to go and sleep with another friend.”

 

Another resident said the incident shocked everyone in the area. “These lovers were staying three houses apart and no one suspected they were dating. It is unfortunate that the pastor and his assistant died in the fire. I was told the pastor was invited to preach in Yenagoa and the estranged girlfriend offered her home for them to sleep.”

 

When contacted, spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and said the investigation was ongoing, while the girlfriend has been kept in protective custody.

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