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Landlord sets house on fire over tenants refusal to pay rent in Edo State

Published

6 years ago

February 22, 2018

Cries as landlord set house ablaze over tenants’ refusal to pay rent. There was wailing at Iwebo lane behind Oba Market, Benin, Edo State , on Tuesday, after a man that inherited his late father’s house, Idemudia Obamwonyi, set the building ablaze over the refusal of tenants in the building to pay their rents.

Over 20 shops in the building were razed. Idemudia was said to have been heard shouting telling people to allow the house burn since he does get any money from the house.

Angered by the non-payment of the rented apartment by a tenant, a man that inherited his late father’s house, Idemudia Obamwonyi, has allegedly set the building ablaze.

Also affected in the inferno were 20 shops in the building located at Iwebo lane behind Oba Market in Benin City, Edo State was razed. Idemudia was said to have prevented people in the neighborhood from putting out the raging fire shouting that since he does not get any money from the house. Many of the shop owners have locked their shops before the fire started.

A resident in the area, Ifaluyi Obasogie, said it was unheard of for a landlord to set his own house ablaze.

“We saw people holding him and he was saying let the house burn, I don’t get any money from it.”
A shop owner who gave his name as Justice Aigbekhan said they have paid their rent but Idemudia kept asking for money claiming that he wants to perform his father’s burial.
“If they are having family issues, they should go and solve it. It is not for them to put us in trouble.”
Another shop owner, Cynthia Obaseki said she lost goods worth N5m to the inferno. Edo State Police Public Relation officer, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzo when contacted said an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Source: Leadership