A 54-year-old man, Joseph Ojo, has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly setting five of his stepchildren ablaze in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the State.
The Trumpet gathered that the man who resided in the Fagun crescent area poured petrol into the room of the children and set them ablaze after their mother denied him sex.
Ojo left his wife and her 18-month-old twins in the room and set the children in the other room on fire, a source said.
The source further told The Trumpet that the neighbour were able to save the children as a result of the alarm they raised.
The source added that one of the children had been badly burnt in the inferno, but the mother escaped from the inferno with her twins with a minor injury.
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It was learnt that four of the children were rushed to a clinic but were referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where they are currently receiving treatment.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mrs Funmi Odunlami said the man is in police custody for a case of alleged arson and murder.
She said the suspect is the stepfather of the victims and the father of the 18-month-old twins.
Odunlami said the police had commenced an investigation into the matter and the man would be charged in court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The PPRO also said an investigation would be carried out before charging the suspect to court.
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