Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of grief and shock has swept through the Kaffe area of Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, following the gruesome death of two young sisters, Precious Ordo, 6, and Sember Ordo, 4, who were burnt to death in a fire allegedly set by their father's lover in the early hours of Monday, July 6, 2026. The suspect, identified as Mbayegh, a middle-aged woman from Buruku Local Government Area, has been arrested by the police and is currently in custody as investigations continue. The tragic incident has sparked outrage and deep sorrow, with community members struggling to understand how a dispute between lovers could result in the loss of two innocent lives.
According to eyewitness accounts, the suspect had visited the residence of her lover, Aondoyima Ierkwagh, on Sunday night intending to spend time with him. However, she was reportedly asked to leave, a request she refused after suspecting that another woman was inside the house with him. The refusal to let her in heightened her anger and suspicion. The father of the children, whose wife was away in Taraba State for farming activities, later locked his two daughters in a traditional round hut inside the compound before retiring to another hut for the night.
At about midnight, the distraught woman, still believing that her lover and another woman were inside the hut, allegedly set the structure ablaze. Unknown to her, the two young girls were asleep inside. One of the victims, Precious, died at the scene from severe burns, while her younger sister, Sember, was rushed to a hospital by neighbours. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment. The victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition.
Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect. She noted that the police received a report from the girls' father, who alleged that someone had set his house on fire. While the police have not definitively established the motive, witnesses have linked the act to a relationship dispute. "I don't really know if it was a lovers' quarrel that resulted in the act, but the report we got from the father of the girls was that someone set his house on fire," Edet told Premium Times. She added that neighbours tried to rescue the children, but they died while receiving treatment.
Following the incident, the suspect reportedly fled the scene but was later apprehended near Tse-Dugwer village by members of the Benue State Volunteer Guards, who handed her over to the police. The traditional ruler of Ukum, the Ter Ukum, Chief Orkaa Kaave, confirmed the incident, describing it as a case of a jealous lover who acted out of suspicion.
The tragic death of the two sisters has reignited calls for greater community vigilance and intervention in domestic disputes. While police investigations are ongoing, the community is left to mourn the loss of two young lives, victims of a moment of blind rage and jealousy. The case has also prompted mental health professionals to weigh in, with a psychosocial therapist suggesting the suspect may require a psychiatric evaluation.
As the suspect remains in police custody, the people of Ukum LGA are grappling with the profound loss. The incident serves as a devastating reminder of how quickly personal disputes can spiral into irreversible tragedy. Aondoyima Ierkwagh has lost two daughters, and the community has lost two of its youngest members. The suspect, Mbayegh, will face the full weight of the law as the investigation progresses.
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