By Bala Dauda, Damaturu
The Police in Yobe have arrested a 9-year-old boy for allegedly setting his father’s house ablaze, killing his 2 step mothers and 2 younger brothers in Rugan Badali, Karasuwa Local Government Area.
The state Police Spokesman, ASP Yusuf Ali, confirmed this to journalists, while parading the suspect and his father, Mr Abubakar Idi, in Damaturu.
He said the incident was reported to the Karasuwa Division of the Police on Aug 21.
“ We received a distress call that there was a fire outbreak at a hamlet in Ruganbadali at the residence of one Abubakar Idi, the father of the minor, where two of his wives and two children were burnt beyond recognition.
“ After investigation, it was discovered that the house was actually set ablazed by Idi’s son,” the spokesman said.
Ali said during interrogation, the minor confessed to committing the crime and deceitfully sought for help from members of the public to put out the fire.
He said although the suspect was a minor, he would not go unpunished to serve as a deterrent to other children who might want to engage in such dastardly act.
Reacting to the allegation, the minor said he committed the crime as a protest for being whipped by his father earlier.
“I carried one of our fowls to sell. Members of the public, looking at my age, reported me to my father and I was beaten.
“ The following day, I bought a N50 matches at the neighbourhood while my 2 step mothers and 2 younger brothers were asleep. I set our house on fire as a revenge to what my father did to me.
“ When the house was on fire, I only shouted for help and people came for rescue but did not tell them that I did it until after the third-day prayer when i confessed and was later arrested by policemen and brought to Damaturu,” the minor.