A nine-year-old boy has been arrested by the Yobe State Police Command over an alleged fire incident that killed his two stepmothers and two younger brothers.
The incident occurred at Rugan Badal, a settlement in Karasuwa Local Government Area of the state.
The boy reportedly set the family house on fire after his father punished him for allegedly taking a fowl without permission and attempting to sell it.
According to the suspect, he bought matches worth ₦50 the following day and waited until his two stepmothers and younger brothers were asleep before setting the house ablaze.
“I carried one of our fowls to sell, and people reported me to my father. I was beaten,” he reportedly said.
Inside Yobe state:
Police Arrest 32-Year-Old Man Over Alleged N630,000 Robbery in Yobe
Fire Destroys Several Shops in Yobe, Traders Lose Millions
Yobe Police Arrest Moniepoint Officer Over Alleged ₦74m POS Fraud
He explained that he started the fire as revenge for the punishment, adding that he initially raised an alarm and called for help without telling anyone that he had caused the fire.
The blaze reportedly spread quickly, trapping the four victims inside the house.
The boy said he only confessed to starting the fire three days later following prayers, after which the police arrested him and took him to Damaturu.
The suspect was paraded alongside his father, Abubakar Idi, by the police in Damaturu on Tuesday.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali, confirmed the arrest and acknowledged the suspect’s age while stressing the seriousness of the alleged offence.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
About the Author
