17-year – old prospective Law student at the Benue State University , Makurdi , Alex Esther, narrates to JOHN CHARLES how she set her boyfriend , Chidinma , ablaze after he allegedly made her abort three pregnancies
What is your name?
My name is Esther Alex .
How old are you ?
I am 17 years old .
What do you do ?
I just gained admission into Benue State University to study Law.
You were arrested for allegedly setting one Chidinma , said to be your boyfriend, ablaze . What actually happened?
I just can’ t explain why I killed my boyfriend. I was just angry over all the issues we had .
What were the issues ?
We had been fighting over some issues; like I was a virgin when I met him and he promised never to leave me but to always stand by me . Our relationship was really serious to the extent that we had to take a blood oath before I allowed him to deflower me . When I got pregnant for him , he gave me an injection in his medicine shop to abort the pregnancy. I got pregnant the second time and he promised that we would keep that one ( pregnancy) . Then he started misbehaving and would sometimes not even come home while I was pregnant .
Were the two of you living together?
Yes. He came with some people to meet with my family after which I moved in with him . Then I got pregnant for him the third time . We had serious problems to the point that we had even been going to the police station . I later had to pack out of his house. His sister would sometimes come and beat me up in the house. I couldn’ t fight for myself . After our last fight , he travelled to his village for Christmas and came back on Saturday , January 9, 2021.
The night he returned from the village, he came to look for me at our house. I was going to buy something in the neighbourhood when I heard him calling me but I didn ’ t answer him . He started begging me and said there were things he needed to settle with me . I said I had forgiven him . He then said I should come to his house and I said it wouldn’ t be possible immediately.
So , what happened then ?
Eventually, I decided to go to his house the following day but I was scared that he might harm me . So , I decided to buy some fuel for N 840 from a man selling around my house. I also bought matches and went to visit him at night.
What happened when you got to his house with the fuel ?
By the time I got to his house, the main gate to the compound was already locked so I had to go and knock at his window . He asked who was there and I said I was the one . He came and opened the gate for me and I entered but left the fuel outside .
We started chatting in his room and settled ( our differences ) , then we had sex. I actually didn ’ t feel like having sex with him but he forced me and had his way. After the sex, we both slept off.
Then what happened?
I just cannot say , but later , I went outside and carried the fuel and poured it in the room and then I lit the matches. I ran out naked and went and slept inside a church .
How do you feel now ?
Reality has dawned on me now and I feel bad about what has happened .
Source: The Punch
