The Nigeria Police Force, Yobe State Command, has arrested a nine-year-old boy for allegedly setting his family home ablaze, resulting in the deaths of his two stepmothers and two younger brothers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident reportedly occurred at Rugan Badali in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The boy was allegedly beaten by his father after being accused of stealing a fowl. Police said the minor subsequently admitted setting the house on fire as an act of revenge.
Speaking with Channels Television, the boy allegedly confessed to starting the fire while his two stepmothers and two 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,” he said.
The boy said he initially concealed his involvement in the incident and called for help after the fire started.
“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 suspect alongside his father, Abubakar Idi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali, confirmed that the suspect was a minor but said the police would not simply release him.
According to the police spokesperson, the boy would be dealt with in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to other children who may engage in similar unlawful acts.
Adamu-Ali also expressed concern over the incident, particularly as Yobe continues to recover from the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The police said further investigations into the incident are ongoing.
