The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Nura Mas’ud, a resident of Mu’azu village of Sule Tankarkar LGA, for allegedly setting his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ablaze.
It was learnt on Sunday that Mrs Muhammad had repeatedly expressed concern over her grandson’s physical appearance and mental health status, who is said to be mentally unstable.
Mas’ud was said to have been provoked by his grandmother’s frequent inquiries and warned her to stop but she continued.
In a confessional audio clip made available, Mas’ud said he was fed up with his grandmother’s endless inquiries about his health status.
He noted that his decision to set her ablaze using petrol had put to a halt her questioning.
“She frequently asked about my health, and I asked her what was happening to me but she kept mum. That was what informed my decision to pour petrol on her,” Mas’ud stated.
When contacted, the Jigawa State Police Command’s spokesman, Shiisu Lawan Adam, who confirmed the tragic incident to our correspondent, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who is suffering from mental derangement, has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is suffering from mental illness and has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital”, Lawan emphasised.
“One Nura Mas’ud, ‘m’, age 26 years of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister and suddenly poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ‘f’, aged 60 years, of the same address, and set her ablaze”, Lawan said.
According to him, the victim died while receiving treatment at a hospital, adding that the suspect had voluntarily confessed to have committed the offence because of the endless enquiries the victim was making about his life on several occasions.
This is a deeply tragic and disturbing incident. The case of Nura Mas’ud, a 26-year-old from Jigawa State, setting his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ablaze highlights the complex intersection of mental health issues and familial conflict. The fact that Mas’ud was reported to suffer from mental illness and had been receiving treatment at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital adds another layer of complexity to this tragic event.
Mental health awareness and access to adequate care are critical in preventing such unfortunate incidents. The repeated inquiries from his grandmother, which reportedly triggered his actions, suggest a breakdown in communication and understanding, possibly exacerbated by his mental state.
The police’s involvement and the confirmation from their spokesperson, Shiisu Lawan Adam, provide some assurance that the matter is being thoroughly investigated. However, this case underlines the importance of providing more support for individuals with mental health issues and ensuring that families are equipped with the tools and knowledge to handle such situations compassionately and effectively.
This case also brings attention to the broader issue of mental health stigma and insufficient care infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, where support systems for people with mental health challenges can be limited.
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