The police in Yobe State have arrested a nine-year-old boy for allegedly setting a house ablaze, killing his two stepmothers and two younger brothers at Rugan Badali in Karasuwa Local Government Area of the state.
Channels Television reports that the suspect claimed he burnt the house after his father accused him of stealing a fowl and beat him.
The boy said he took one of their fowls to sell and was subsequently reported to his father, who allegedly beat him. He said he later bought matches for N50 and set the house on fire while his two stepmothers and two younger brothers were asleep, describing the act as revenge against his father.
According to the suspect, he shouted for help when the house caught fire but did not disclose that he had started the fire. He said he confessed three days later following prayers and was subsequently arrested by the police and taken to Damaturu.
While parading the suspect alongside his father, the Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe State, ASP Yusuf Adamu Ali, said the suspect was a minor but would not be allowed to go free, adding that the case would serve as a deterrent to other children involved in unlawful acts.
The police spokesperson also expressed concern over the incident, particularly as Yobe State continues to recover from the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency.
