By Our Reporter
A 28-year-old woman, Firdausi Musa, and her two children suffered severe burns after her co-wife allegedly poured petrol on them and set them ablaze in Kano.
The incident occurred late Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro quarters in Kano metropolis, leaving residents shocked. The suspect, identified as Maryam Muhammad, is currently being held at the Mariri Police Division.
The victims, Khadija Ya’u, 7, and Ismail Ya’u, 3, are receiving treatment alongside their mother at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, and the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.
Their father, Malam Saminu, also sustained burns while reportedly trying to rescue the victims from the fire and is currently undergoing treatment.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Buhari Musa Sa’ad, a younger brother to Firdausi, said the family received a distress call around 3 a.m. informing them that his sister, her husband and the children had been set on fire by the co-wife.
According to him, Firdausi had spent less than two weeks in the matrimonial home before the incident happened.
“She is about 28 years old. The children who were burned are from her previous marriage. They are stepchildren to the husband, who works as a tricycle rider,” he said.
A relative of the victim, Rukayya, said Firdausi had earlier complained about threats and intimidation from the co-wife before the attack.
“We were here when she was brought in, and she personally told us it was her co-wife who poured petrol on her and set her on fire,” she said.
Rukayya added that Firdausi had temporarily left the house earlier that day because of repeated threats, but later returned after her husband intervened.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.