A 55-year-old pastor, Benjamin Okyere, has been arrested by police for allegedly setting his girlfriend, Agnes, and her two children ablaze at Tanoso in the Kwadaso Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The devastating incident occurred on October 5, 2024, when Okyere sprayed fuel in the room and torched the building while the family slept.
The couple had been at odds over Okyere’s demand that Agnes send her children away to ensure privacy in their shared single room.
Agnes, a widow, refused, leading to tension in the house.
Narrating the incident, an assembly member of the area, Aaron Nandie, stated that Okyere’s request was unreasonable.
“He wanted the woman to sack her children from the single room they shared, but she refused. This led to a rift between them. The woman’s refusal to heed Okyere’s advice reportedly agitated him, and he threatened to deal with her. True to his words, Okyere allegedly set the room ablaze,” he said.
Fortunately, the woman and her children escaped but they are receiving medical attention due to severe burns.
Nandie expressed shock and disappointment at the incident, condemning Okyere’s actions.
“It’s unacceptable for someone who claims to be a pastor to engage in such heinous acts.”
Okyere, who went into hiding, was arrested at Apatrapa and is currently assisting police in investigations.