The Yobe State Police Command has arrested a nine-year-old boy for allegedly setting fire to his family’s house, resulting in the deaths of his two stepmothers and two younger brothers in Rugan Badali, Karasuwa Local Government Area of the state.
The boy was reportedly accused of stealing a fowl and was beaten by his father over the incident.
According to the suspect, he became angry after the beating and decided to set the house ablaze while his two stepmothers and younger brothers were asleep.
“I carried one of our fowls to sell; the general public, looking at my age, reported me to my father, and I was beaten. The following day, I bought ₦50 worth of matches at the neighbourhood while my two stepmothers and two younger brothers were asleep; I set our house on fire as revenge for what my father did to me,” the minor said.
He said he initially raised an alarm and allowed residents to come to the scene without disclosing his involvement, adding that he later confessed after three days of prayer.
“Although when the house caught fire, I only shouted for help and people came for the rescue, I did not tell them that I was the one who did it until after three days of prayer; I now confessed and was later arrested by policemen and brought here to Damaturu,” he said.
While parading the boy alongside his father, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali, said the suspect, despite being a minor, would not be allowed to go free, stressing that his handling would serve as a deterrent to other children who might engage in unlawful acts.
Adamu-Ali also expressed concern over the incident, particularly as the state continues to recover from the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency.
