41-yr-old man sets neighbour’s house ablaze, says his mum asked him to do so

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 41-year-old man, Bassey Ekpo, for allegedly setting fire to the house of a neighbour at 8 Miles, Calabar, as he said he was instructed by his mother to do so

The command’s spokesman, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Calabar, the state capital, said that the incident was reported at the Ikpa Omin Police Division by the occupant of the residence, Ekemini Stephen.

He said that Stephen reported that he was in church when he received a telephone call from a neighbour, who informed him that his house had been set ablaze.

According to him, neighbours subsequently apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the police.

The spokesman said that during preliminary questioning, Ekpo allegedly claimed that his 61-year-old mother sent him to carry out the act.

He said that the woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was currently at large and was being sought by the police in connection with the investigation.

Eitokpah said that police operatives had visited the scene and taken photographs as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He said that investigation was ongoing to determine the involvement of all persons connected with the alleged arson.

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“The command assures members of the public that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” he said.