In a shocking incident in Yobe state, a nine-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly setting his house on fire, leading to the tragic deaths of his two stepmothers and two younger brothers. The incident occurred in Rugan Badali, located in the Karasuwa Local Government Area of the state.

According to reports from Channels TV, the boy claimed that he acted out of revenge after being accused by his father of stealing a fowl, which resulted in him being beaten. In his confession, the boy stated, "I carried one of our fowls to sell; the general public, looking at my age, reported me to my father, and I was beaten. The following day, I bought a N50 worth of matches at the neighbourhood while my two stepmothers and two younger brothers were asleep; I set our house on fire as revenge for what my father did to me."

The boy further explained that when the fire broke out, he shouted for help, but did not initially confess to his involvement. It was only after three days of prayer that he admitted to starting the fire, leading to his arrest by the police.

The Yobe state police have expressed concern over the incident, especially given the region's ongoing recovery from the Boko Haram insurgency. ASP Yusuf Adamu-Ali, the Police Relations Officer, stated that although the suspect is a minor, he will not be released without consequences. This decision is aimed at serving as a deterrent to other children who may engage in similar unlawful acts.

The tragic event has raised alarms about the safety and well-being of children in the region, highlighting the need for better support systems for families dealing with conflict and trauma. As the community grapples with the aftermath of this incident, there are calls for increased awareness and preventive measures to protect vulnerable children from such dire situations.