The tranquility of Nogokpo Kugbagbokope, a community nestled within the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region in Ghana, was shattered on Friday, June 20th, around 12:30 pm, when a brother allegedly set fire to his sibling’s house following a brief altercation. The devastating blaze consumed the victim’s entire possessions, leaving him with only the clothes he was wearing. The incident has sent shockwaves through the small community, highlighting the fragility of family bonds and the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and resentment.
Mr. Joe Kugbagbo, the victim of the arson attack, recounted the events leading up to the inferno to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He explained that his younger brother, Gabriel Kugbagbo, approached him with a menacing statement, which he initially dismissed as a jest. Mr. Joe Kugbagbo emphasized that there had been no recent quarrels or disagreements between them, making his brother’s threat all the more perplexing. The ominous warning, however, foreshadowed the tragedy that was about to unfold. “I was resting in my room when my brother, Gabriel Kugbagbo, approached and threatened that he will deal with me without any provocation,” Mr. Joe Kugbagbo stated, bewildered by the sudden and inexplicable animosity.
The victim’s peaceful respite was soon interrupted by the acrid smell of smoke and a rapidly rising temperature within his room. He quickly realized that his house was engulfed in flames. According to Mr. Joe Kugbagbo, his brother had doused the premises with a flammable substance, believed to be petrol, before igniting the blaze. The fire rapidly consumed the dwelling, reducing years of accumulated possessions to ashes. The victim lost everything – clothing, Kente weaving equipment essential for his livelihood, food supplies, roofing materials, and even a sum of GHC 1,275.00 in cash. The fire left him destitute, with only the clothes on his back as a grim reminder of the life he had lost in a single, devastating act.
The sheer magnitude of the loss is difficult to comprehend. Mr. Joe Kugbagbo lamented the destruction of his life’s work, achieved through years of toil and dedication, all reduced to smoldering ruins in a matter of minutes. He expressed his disbelief and anguish that his own brother could perpetrate such a horrific act against him, especially given the absence of any recent conflict or provocation. “My everything has gone down, my own brother did this to me without any provocation, we don’t even have any argument or dispute today. I am yet to know the reason why he did this to me,” he despaired, grappling with the emotional and material devastation.
Initially, the suspect, Gabriel Kugbagbo, refused to cooperate with media inquiries. However, he later confessed to the act in a conversation with Mr. Jonas Fotor Agbagba, the Assembly Member of the area. He claimed that his actions were driven by insults and accusations hurled at him by his elder brother, who allegedly branded him a wizard. This alleged accusation, whether real or perceived, sheds some light on a potential underlying tension within the family dynamic, though it hardly justifies the extreme response. The revelation underscores the destructive power of unchecked anger and the importance of addressing grievances through constructive dialogue rather than resorting to violence.
Local authorities swiftly responded to the incident. The case has been officially reported to the police, and Gabriel Kugbagbo has been apprehended and is currently under investigation. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of familial disputes escalating into violence, leaving behind not only charred remnants of material possessions but also deeply scarred emotional landscapes. The community of Nogokpo Kugbagbokope is now left to grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy, offering support to the victim while awaiting the outcome of the police investigation and the subsequent legal proceedings. The incident highlights the urgent need for conflict resolution mechanisms within communities to prevent such devastating outbreaks of violence and to promote peaceful coexistence among family members and neighbors.
