A woman identified as Maryam Muhammad has been arrested by the police in Kano State for allegedly setting her co-wife and two children on fire in the Hotoro area of Kano metropolis.
The incident, which reportedly occurred late Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro Quarters, has left residents of the community in shock.
The victims were identified as 28-year-old Firdausi Musa and her two children, Khadija Ya’u, 7, and Ismail Ya’u, 3.
The injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, and the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.
Their husband, Malam Saminu, was also said to have sustained burns while attempting to rescue them from the fire.
According to reports, the suspect allegedly poured petrol on the victims before setting them ablaze.
A younger brother to Firdausi, Buhari Musa Sa’ad, said the family received a distress call around 3am informing them about the incident.
He disclosed that his sister had spent less than two weeks in the matrimonial home before the attack occurred.
“She is around 28 years old. The children who got burned are the ones she brought with her from her previous marriage. They are stepchildren to the husband, who works as a tricycle rider,” he said.
The suspect is reportedly being detained at the Mariri Police Division pending further investigation.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
