The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Benedict Anieze, who allegedly killed his one-month-old baby, Onyinyechi, by smashing her to the ground and then attempted to set himself on fire in Idimu area of the state.
While fielding questions from journalists on Thursday at the police e headquarters, Anieze blamed his action on being drunk.
He was said to have killed the baby on April 6 after a heated quarrel with his wife.
After realising he had killed the baby, he dumped her remains in an uncompleted building.
It was said that he would have killed himself but for the intervention of neighbours.
The suspect was paraded by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
Anieze said: “I was in the bathroom when I heard a knock on my door and I rushed out and picked the baby.
“Unfortunately, the baby slipped, hit her head on the floor and died.
“Immediately I saw what I did, I dashed out of my apartment and headed straight to where I kept my gallon of petrol with the purpose of setting myself ablaze.
“What happened was not intentional.
“I didn’t smash her head on the flour as claimed by the police.
“When the incident occurred, I wasn’t myself anymore.
“I wanted to set myself ablaze to die with the baby.
“I am not happy seeing the corpse of my daughter on the floor.
“What was coming to my mind was to kill myself.
“I didn’t have any disagreement with my wife on the fateful day.
“It was true that the death of my daughter was from me.
“My wife was not at fault.
“It was true I killed my baby.
“It was an accident, but I am not happy.
“I am a foolish person to have killed my daughter.
“I am not happy with the death of my daughter.
“My wife has been taken away to one of her family members to live with them because if is left alone, she may commit suicide and I don’t want to lose the two of them same time.”
A police source said immediately after the baby died, Anieze threw her remains into an uncompleted property close to their house.
He said: “I did it as a result of fear that some residents will lynch me.
“It was after I threw the corpse of my baby to the next compound that I went inside back to set myself ablaze.
“I regret my action.
“I beg God to forgive of my sin and bless the soul of my baby.”