Nkubu woman sets man on fire in case of mistaken identity

Nkubu woman sets man on fire in case of mistaken identity

A middle-aged man escaped death by a whisker Sunday morning after a woman doused him with petrol and set him on fire at Nkubu Market in Meru County.

Erick Kinyua, a charcoal seller at the trade centre, was mistaken for a thief by the businesswoman who operates an M-pesa shop at the area.

Eyewitnesses claim that Kinyua was standing outside the woman’s shop waiting for a charcoal buyer whom he had been informed would meet him there.

Writhing in pain from the burns, Kinyua narrated to Citizen Digital, what transpired.

“I was waiting for a woman outside the M-pesa stall when the shop’s owner came out ranting I was responsible for all things that were being stolen from her shop. She however before leaving asked me to sit on a bench and wait for my customer. Unknown to me, she’d rushed to buy petrol.Upon returning, with the help of other men, she doused the petrol on me and set my body on fire. My hands, back and leg have been burnt. I don’t know why she did so; I have never stolen anyone’s property in my life,” he narrated.

Ken Mwiti, an eyewitness, told Citizen Digital that he saw Mr Kinyua running while his body was engulfed in flames. He (Mwiti) then rushed to fetch water and helped put out the fire.

Mr Mwiti urged his fellow residents not to take law in their hands, whether or not they thought a suspect was guilty.

Kinyua was rushed to Consolata Mission hospital by police officers attached to Nkubu Police Station where he had recorded a statement.

Police have launched investigations into the incident.

 

 

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Nkubu woman sets man on fire over mistaken identity

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