A man, Leo Columbus has been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command for setting his niece ablaze over indiscriminate defecation.
Columbus, 37, allegedly tied his three-year-old niece identified simply as Destiny to a guava tree before setting her ablaze.
Before the incident which occurred in Akamkpa LGA of the state, the suspect was said to have warned his niece against going to other people’s homes to defecate after several complaints from neighbours.
However, on the fateful day, Destiny was said to have gone to another neighbour’s house to defecate and it was reported to his uncle.
An angry Columbus said he beat her up in annoyance after it was reported that Destiny defecated on the neighbour’s pumpkin and water leaf.
He added that he was burning bushes at the time and he threw some leaves at her in anger, which caused her to be burnt.
Columbus insisted he did not mean to harm or kill Destiny, his brother’s daughter that he had been taking care of for two years.
But the State Police Commissioner, Hafiz Inuwa said the suspect tied the little girl to a guava tree and set her ablaze.
He added that the little girl was taken to hospital and treated before being moved to an orphanage.