Nura Mas’ud, a 26-year-old man, has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command for allegedly setting his grandmother on fire.
DSP Lawan Adam, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Saturday.
Adam said, “On October 8, 2024, at about 1600hrs, the command was notified of a sad and regrettable incident that occurred in Mu’azu village, Dan Gwanki ward, Sule Tankarkar LG.
“That one Nura Mas’ud, 26 of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister and poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, 60 of the same address, and set her ablaze.
“The elderly woman eventually passed away while being admitted to a hospital as a result of the conflagration.”
Adam said the police swiftly arrested the suspect and he “was later taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a discreet investigation”.
“During the interrogation, the suspect admitted to committing the alleged offence against him,” the police said, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect suffers from mental illness.
He noted that Mas’ud has been receiving treatment at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.
The police spokesman said the suspect said his “grandmother upset him by expressing concern about his physical appearance and health, which he did not want”.
“He warned her on several occasions but she refused. Thus, he purchased gasoline, poured and ignited her,” Adam added.