A five years old girl, simply identified as Nifemi, has been burnt to death after a 45-year-old man set their makeshift house at Powerline Area in Alagbado, Lagos on fire.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr Imohimin Edgal, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday said Nifemi’s mother and her two siblings suffered severe burns.

Edgal said that the family were sleeping when the incident happened, adding that the suspect had been arrested.

He identified the victims as Mrs Anitan and her children – Ayo, Esther and Nifemi.

He said,

“They are currently receiving treatment at Gbagada General Hospital.

“This is the dwelling place for a woman and three of her children.

“They were sleeping and suddenly there was fire outbreak. They sustained severe burns before they were rushed to the hospital.

“Fortunately, the Divisional Police Officer and his team that came to their rescue did a painstaking search.

“They were able to recover a phone which was traced to Shola Adewunmi, who previously had serious altercation with the woman.

“Evidence we have so far is that the man purposely set fire on the house with intent to burn both the woman and her children alive.

“He has been arrested and I have ordered that he be taken to the state CID for further investigation,” he said.

The police chief said that the suspect would be properly investigated and charged to court, adding that the outcome of the investigation would be public.