A nine-year-old boy has been arrested by the Yobe State Police Command after allegedly setting his family home on fire, killing his two stepmothers and two younger brothers.
The incident happened at Rugan Badal, a hamlet in Karasuwa Local Government Area.
Police said the boy allegedly started the fire to get revenge on his father after he was punished for stealing a fowl.
Speaking to Channels Television, the boy explained what happened.
“I carried one of our fowls to sell; the general public, looking at my age, reported me to my father, and I was beaten,” he said.
“The following day, I bought N50 worth of matches in 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 he later shouted for help as the fire spread through the house, trapping the victims inside.
“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 added.
The police paraded the boy and his father, Abubakar Idi, on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali said the suspect’s age was noted but stressed that the seriousness of the crime requires legal accountability as a deterrent.
Investigations are ongoing.
