“It Was An Accident”: Wife Who Allegedly Set Army Lieutenant Husband on Fire Breaks Silence.
The widow of Lieutenant Dr. Samson Haruna, the military officer who tragically died after a fire at his residence, has publicly addressed the incident for the first time, offering a version of events that starkly contradicts the initial, viral narrative that she deliberately set him ablaze.
The harrowing incident, which occurred on September 22, 2025, at the couple’s home in the Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, sent shockwaves through the community and online spaces. Initial reports alleged that Mrs. Haruna, in a fit of rage over her husband’s alleged infidelity, poured fuel on him and ignited it.
READ: False Viral Post Claims That American Fitness Influencer Ashton Hall Is Dead, He is Alive!
Now, breaking her silence after what she describes as a traumatic ordeal, the widow insists the tragedy was a devastating accident.
In her account, the evening of the incident was marked by a severe domestic argument. She alleges that during the altercation, her husband, Lieutenant Haruna, threatened to burn her belongings. The situation escalated physically when, she claims, he kicked a container of fuel inside their living area, causing its contents to spill.
Simultaneously, she noted, cooking gas was on in the adjacent kitchen. Fearing an imminent explosion or fire, she says she fled the house to safety. Once outside, she immediately began placing calls to military superiors to report her husband’s “unruly behaviour.”
“While I was still outside, the house suddenly caught fire,” she stated.
According to her, her husband managed to escape the initial blaze and joined her outside. However, in a moment of panic, he rushed back into the burning building, reportedly to retrieve important documents. It was during this desperate attempt that his clothes caught fire, leading to severe burn injuries. He was swiftly transported to the unit’s medical facility for emergency treatment.
Due to the well-documented marital strife between the couple, the military authorities treated her as a prime suspect. She claims she was detained in a guardroom for 13 days while a thorough investigation was conducted.
She alleges that the investigation eventually cleared her of direct involvement. Furthermore, she makes a poignant claim: while Lieutenant Haruna was receiving treatment in the hospital, he reportedly told military officials that his wife was not responsible for the fire. He even pleaded for her to be brought to him so he could ask for her forgiveness, she said.
READ: Again! Two Killed as Dangote Truck Crashes into Family Home in Cross River Community
Tragically, Lieutenant Dr. Samson Haruna succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Following her release and her husband’s death, the widow returned to her parents’ home in Jos. She remains there, she says, awaiting funeral arrangements.
Despite her detailed testimony, her story has been met with widespread public skepticism. Many online commentators have questioned the plausibility of an “educated military doctor” keeping a container of petrol in his living room, especially one situated close to a kitchen where cooking was actively taking place. The scenario, for many, stretches credulity.
The Nigerian Army has yet to release an official final statement on the matter. However, when contacted by news outlets like Arise News, a military spokesperson confirmed the incident and expressed profound dismay. The spokesperson was quoted as being “at shock how two people who love themselves [could] become so hostile,” suggesting the case pointed to severe “anger management issues.”
