A 25-year-old female student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Cynthia Chukwunda, has been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command for allegedly setting her lover ablaze following a dispute over her pregnancy.

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, at her residence in the Choba area of Port Harcourt.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim, identified as Sunny, had been away for over six months and returned to visit Cynthia, who is eight months pregnant.

During the visit, a heated argument broke out between the two over issues relating to the pregnancy.

“She stepped out and returned with petrol. While the man was asleep, she poured it on him and the bed and set him ablaze,” a source said.

Both Cynthia and the victim sustained serious burns and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. However, Sunny was later confirmed dead on Sunday due to the severity of his injuries.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and sent to the media.

‎Iringe-Koko also said the girl, who also suffered some burns from the inferno, is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital under the watch of the police, saying the command has launched an investigation into the incident.

‎The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of and deeply concerned about a circulating social media report depicting a fire incident that occurred at No. 11B Okoro Street, Choba, Port Harcourt.

‎”According to the report, one Cynthia Chukwundah, a 300-level female undergraduate student of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly set her boyfriend, one Saint Sunny Amadi, a 32-year-old male from the Elibrada Community in Emohua LGA, ablaze in a room, resulting in severe injuries during the inferno.

“‎He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment.

“‎Upon receiving the report at about 1112 hours, Police detectives from the Choba Division promptly visited the scene and the victim at the hospital, who was in critical condition. Unfortunately, the victim later succumbed to injuries and died while on admission.”

‎She added, “The Police have located Cynthia, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital due to injuries she also sustained during the incident. She is also heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child.

‎“Due to her critical condition, she is unable to provide a detailed account of the incident, but will do so when her condition is stable.

‎“The probable cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, and a thorough investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

This tragedy has drawn attention to the rising cases of intimate partner violence in Nigeria, particularly among young people.

In 2021, a similar incident occurred in Benue State where a 17-year-old prospective law student was accused of setting her boyfriend ablaze after he allegedly impregnated and abandoned her.

Authorities are expected to charge Cynthia to court after investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the University of Port Harcourt has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.