The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Nura Mas’ud for allegedly setting his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ablaze, resulting in her tragic death.
In a statement released on Saturday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, confirmed the incident, which occurred in Mu’azu village, Dan Gwanki ward, Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area, as reported by The Punch.
“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. One Nura Mas’ud, 26, of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister, poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, 60, and set her ablaze.
“The elderly woman eventually passed away while being admitted to a hospital as a result of the conflagration,” Adam explained.
After the incident, police detectives from the Sule Tankarkar Division swiftly arrested Mas’ud and transported him to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
“During the interrogation, the suspect admitted to committing the alleged offence,” the statement revealed.
Initial investigations also uncovered that Mas’ud suffers from mental illness and has been receiving treatment at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.
According to the police, the suspect claimed his grandmother had upset him by frequently expressing concern about his health and physical appearance, despite his repeated warnings to stop.
Frustrated by her persistence, Mas’ud bought gasoline, doused her with it, and set her on fire.
The Commissioner of Police, A.T. Abdullahi, has ordered a thorough investigation by the SCID, with instructions to prosecute the suspect to serve as a deterrent to others.
