Woman arrested in Kano for setting co-wife, two children ablaze

A tragic incident has thrown residents of the Hotoro area of Kano metropolis into shock after a woman, Maryam Muhammad, allegedly doused her 28-year-old co-wife, Firdausi Musa, and her two young children with petrol and set them on fire.

The incident reportedly occurred late Monday night at the Mai Allo area of Hotoro quarters. Sources said the suspect has since been taken into custody and is currently being held at the Mariri Police Division pending further investigation.

The victims — Khadija Ya’u, 7, and Ismail Ya’u, 3 — were said to have sustained varying degrees of burns and are receiving medical treatment alongside their mother. Firdausi and one of the children are being treated at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, while the other child is at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano.

Their father, Malam Saminu, who reportedly suffered burns while attempting to rescue his family from the fire, is also undergoing treatment.

According to a family member, Buhari Musa Sa’ad, a younger brother to Firdausi, the family received a distress call around 3 a.m. informing them of the attack.

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He disclosed that Firdausi had spent less than two weeks in her matrimonial home before the incident occurred.

“She is about 28 years old. The children who were burned are the ones she brought from her previous marriage. They are the husband’s stepchildren. He works as a tricycle rider,” Sa’ad was quoted as saying.

As of the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain an official reaction from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful. Investigations are, however, expected to continue as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.