The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old woman, Maryam Usman, for allegedly setting her co-wife’s room ablaze in the Mangwarori Quarters of the Mariri area in Kano, leaving four persons hospitalised with varying degrees of burns.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on May 12, 2026, at about 12:40 a.m., when the Command received a distress report alleging that the suspect set fire to the room occupied by her co-wife, Firdausi Saminu, aged 40.
“The Command received a distress report indicating that one Maryam Usman, ‘f’, 32 years old, allegedly set fire to the room occupied by her co-wife, Firdausi Saminu, ‘f’, aged 40 years,” the statement said.
The police disclosed that four persons sustained injuries from the fire, including the co-wife, two children and the husband.
Those injured were identified as Firdausi Saminu, 40; Isma’il Saminu, 3; Khadija Saminu, 5; and Saminu Miko, the husband.
The statement added that all the victims were immediately evacuated to Sir Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Kano, where they are currently receiving treatment.
“Patrol teams responded swiftly to the scene. The suspect, Maryam Usman, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody at the Mariri Division. Exhibits have been recovered, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced,” Kiyawa stated.
He noted that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bompai, for further investigation with a view to charging the suspect in court for alleged mischief by fire and attempted culpable homicide.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, condemned the act, describing it as criminal and unacceptable.
The statement quoted the police commissioner as saying the act was “criminal, inhuman and unacceptable under any circumstance,” adding that he had directed investigators to handle the case professionally and expeditiously to ensure justice for the victims.
Bakori also wished the victims a speedy recovery and assured that the Command would provide the necessary protection and support throughout the legal process.
The Police Command advised members of the public to resolve domestic disputes peacefully through dialogue and recognised dispute resolution mechanisms, warning that violence and arson remain punishable offences under the law.
It further urged residents to report early signs of domestic conflict to security agencies and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and encouraged residents to report suspicious activities or domestic threats to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines.
