A 26-year-old man, Nura Mas’ud, has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command for allegedly setting his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, on fire, which resulted in her tragic death.Â
The incident occurred in Mu’azu village, located in Dan Gwanki ward, Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area, Jigawa State.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement made by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lawan Adam, on Saturday.
 According to DSP Adam, the police were alerted to the shocking incident on October 8, 2024, at 4:00 PM.
DSP Adam detailed the events leading to the horrific crime. He explained that Nura Mas’ud, a resident of Mu’azu village, had gone to his family home carrying a petrol canister. Upon arrival, he doused his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, in gasoline and then set her on fire.
The elderly woman was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for severe burns. Unfortunately, despite the medical team’s best efforts, she succumbed to her injuries.
A medical doctor at the hospital later certified her death, after which her body was released to her relatives to be buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Following the incident, detectives from the Sule Tankarkar Division of the Jigawa State Police were quick to act, arresting Mas’ud and taking him into custody.
After his arrest, he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
During his interrogation, Nura Mas’ud reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that he had indeed committed the act.
DSP Adam’s statement also revealed that a preliminary investigation had uncovered that the suspect had a history of mental illness.
 Mas’ud had been receiving treatment for his condition at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital prior to the incident.
According to the suspect, the motive for the gruesome act was rooted in a series of disagreements with his grandmother.
 Mas’ud claimed that his grandmother had repeatedly expressed concern about his physical appearance and health, something which greatly upset him.
Despite several warnings from him to stop, she continued to voice her concerns. This, he said, led him to the drastic decision of purchasing gasoline, pouring it on her, and setting her ablaze in a fit of anger.
The state Commissioner of Police, A.T. Abdullahi, has since directed the SCID to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that Mas’ud is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, with the aim of preventing such incidents from occurring in the future.
The tragic death of Zuwaira Muhammad has sent shockwaves through the community of Mu’azu village, leaving many residents in disbelief.
