An 80-year-old man, Mr Cyril Duru, is currently in police custody in Imo State following allegations that he deliberately set his family house on fire in Umueze Orogwe community, Owerri West Local Government Area. The incident has left a large family homeless and reignited long-standing dispute over property ownership within the household.
The fire, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of the day, completely destroyed the building, which consisted of six rooms and a parlour. According to family members, nothing was salvaged from the house, as the fire spread quickly and consumed all personal belongings.
Speaking to journalists, one of the family members, Mr Uche Duru, said the incident came as a big shock to everyone. He explained that the family was still struggling to understand how such a disaster could happen, especially in a house that had stood for many years.
“We were shocked when we suddenly saw the building engulfed in flames,” Uche said. “Before we could do anything meaningful, the fire had already destroyed everything. The house was completely razed, and nothing was left.”
Uche added that the fire had worsened an already tense situation within the family, as there had been ongoing disagreements over who truly owned the house. According to him, the dispute had caused deep divisions among relatives and had created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.
Mr Cyril Duru, the suspect, is a native of Umueze Orogwe and a respected elder before the incident. He was accused by some family members of setting the house ablaze as a result of unresolved issues over ownership of the property.
However, Mr Cyril denied the allegations when he spoke to journalists. He insisted that he did not set the house on fire and blamed his late brother’s wife, Mrs Marita Chiayalam Duru, and her children for the incident.
According to him, the fire may have been caused by the careless use of a gas cooker inside the building. He claimed that he had repeatedly warned his brother’s wife and her children to stop using gas in the house because of the danger it posed, but they ignored his advice.
“I have warned them many times about using gas cooker in the house,” he said. “They refused to listen. I did not burn the house.”
Mrs Marita Duru strongly rejected Mr Cyril’s claims. She described the accusations as false and misleading, insisting that her husband’s brother was responsible for the fire. According to her, the incident was the result of a long-standing dispute that had turned hostile in recent times.
She alleged that Mr Cyril had on several occasions threatened to kill her and her children and had also threatened to burn down the house. She said the family had been living in fear due to his repeated threats.
Marita further recounted that on the night before the fire, she saw Mr Cyril holding a bottle filled with a liquid she believed was petrol. When she questioned him about it, he reportedly told her it was kerosene.
“We woke up the next morning to find the entire house in flames,” she said. “All our belongings were destroyed. We tried to save some of our things, but it was impossible because the fire was too serious.”
She added that the facts surrounding the incident were clear, insisting that her late husband’s brother had repeatedly ordered them to leave the house, claiming he was the rightful owner of the property.
According to her, Mr Cyril claimed that he only allowed her late husband to stay in the house temporarily and that he had earlier given him a piece of land to build his own house. She said he also complained that accommodating them for so long had become a burden.
Marita, however, countered these claims, stating that the house was a joint family project built through collective contributions by family members. She explained that the family had lived peacefully in the house for many years until recently, when Mr Cyril allegedly began insisting that the building be destroyed so he could sell the land.
“For many years, we lived together in peace,” she said. “The problem started recently when he began threatening to destroy the house because he wants to sell the land.”
Community leaders have also weighed in on the incident. One of the village heads, Nze Ukachi Nzeka, told journalists that the situation was troubling and painful for the entire community.
He alleged that when youths in the area attempted to put out the fire, Mr Cyril tried to stop them from doing so. According to him, this action raised further suspicion among residents.
“When the fire started, some of our youths wanted to help extinguish it,” Nze Nzeka said. “But Mr Cyril was allegedly preventing them from putting it out.”
The incident has sparked serious concern within Umueze Orogwe community, where family houses are often seen as shared heritage passed down through generations. Disputes over ancestral homes and land ownership are not uncommon in many parts of Nigeria, especially in rural communities where land documents may not be clearly defined.
Such disputes sometimes escalate into violence, destruction of property, or prolonged legal battles. Community leaders often try to settle these matters through dialogue and traditional mediation, but in some cases, tensions grow beyond control.
Residents of the area described the fire as a sad development, especially considering the age of the suspect and the number of people affected by the loss of the house. Many expressed sympathy for the women and children who were left without shelter.
The Imo State Police Command has not yet issued a detailed statement on the matter. However, police sources confirmed that Mr Cyril Duru is currently in custody while investigations are ongoing.