A woman identified as Maryam Muhammad has allegedly doused her co-wife, Firdausi Musa, and her two children with petrol before setting them ablaze in the Hotoro area of Kano metropolis.
The incident reportedly occurred late Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro quarters, leaving residents in shock. The suspect is currently being held at the Mariri Police Division.
The children, identified as Khadija Ya’u, 7, and Ismail Ya’u, 3, sustained severe burns alongside their mother and are currently receiving treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Dala and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital respectively.
Their father, Malam Saminu, was also reportedly injured while attempting to rescue the victims from the fire and is undergoing medical treatment.
According to reports by Daily Trust, Firdausi’s younger brother, Buhari Musa Sa’ad, said the family received a distress call around 3 a.m. informing them that his sister, her husband, and the two children had been set on fire by the co-wife.
He disclosed that Firdausi had spent less than two weeks in the matrimonial home before the tragic incident 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.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful.
