Yobe Police Arrest Nine-Year-Old Boy Over Arson That Killed Two Stepmothers, Two Brothers

Police in Yobe State have taken into custody a nine-year-old boy accused of setting a family house on fire, killing his two stepmothers and two younger brothers. The fire occurred in Rugan Badal, a small community in Karasuwa Local Government Area. According to law enforcement, the boy allegedly torched the home as vengeance against his father, who had disciplined him for stealing a fowl. In an interview with Channels Television, the young suspect described his actions and motive. He said he took one of the family's fowls to sell, and members of the public, seeing his age, reported him to his father, after which he was beaten. He added that the next day he bought N50 worth of matches in the neighborhood while his two stepmothers and two younger brothers were asleep, then set the house on fire as retaliation for his father's punishment. The flames spread quickly through the residence, trapping the victims inside. The boy said that after igniting the fire he shouted for help so neighbors would notice. He stated that when the house was burning he only called for assistance, and people came to rescue, but he did not reveal that he was responsible until after three days of prayer; he then confessed and was subsequently arrested by police and brought to Damaturu. The Yobe State Police Command paraded the suspect alongside his father, Abubakar Idi, on Tuesday. Command spokesman ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali acknowledged the suspect's young age but stressed that the seriousness of the offense requires legal accountability to deter others. The incident has shocked the local community, prompting concerns about domestic discipline, child psychology, and how easily minors can obtain dangerous materials. Investigations are continuing.