The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Nura Mas’ud for allegedly setting his 60-year-old grandmother ablaze in the Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area.
In a statement released on Saturday, October 12, 2024, police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam reported that the suspect arrived at his family home with a petrol canister, poured the fuel on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, and ignited it.
The elderly woman later died while receiving treatment at a hospital.
According to the police, Mas’ud suffers from mental illness and has been undergoing treatment at a psychiatric hospital. During questioning, he admitted to the horrific act, claiming his grandmother upset him by expressing concern about his physical appearance and health.
“On 08/10/2024 at about 1600hrs, the Command was notified of a sad and regrettable incident that occurred in Mu’azu village, Dan Gwanki ward, Sule Tankarkar LGA,” the statement read.
“That one Nura Mas’ud ‘m’ age 26yrs of Mu’azu village, Sule tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister and suddenly poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad ‘f’, age 60yrs of the same address, and set her ablaze.
“The elderly woman eventually passed away while being admitted as a result of the conflagration. The medical doctor on call certified her death and the corpse was released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites.
“A team of police detectives from Sule tankarkar division quickly arrested the suspect and detained him in the cell. He was later ferried to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet investigation.
“During the interrogation, the suspect admitted to committing the alleged offence against him.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect suffers from mental illness and has been receiving treatment at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.
“The suspects further stated that, the late 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.
“The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi psc, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department, Dutse, to thoroughly investigate the case and vigorously prosecute the perpetrator in order to deter others from repeating it.”
