The Kano State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old housewife, Maryam Usman, for allegedly setting her co-wife’s bedroom on fire in Mangwarori Quarters, Mariri.
The midnight attack resulted in a devastating inferno that left four family members with severe injuries. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, noting that the incident was reported in the early hours of May 12, 2026.
The victims of the blaze include the suspect’s co-wife, 40-year-old Firdausi Saminu, and her two young children, Isma’il Saminu, 3, and Khadija Saminu, 5.
The husband of both women, Saminu Miko, also sustained burns while caught in the fire. Emergency responders moved swiftly to evacuate the injured to Sir Sunusi Specialist Hospital in Kano, where they are currently undergoing intensive medical treatment for varying degrees of burns.
According to police reports, patrol teams arrived at the scene shortly after the distress call was received at approximately 12:40 AM.
Maryam Usman was arrested on-site and taken into custody at the Mariri Division. Investigators have already recovered several exhibits from the scene of the crime as they begin piecing together the events that led to the domestic tragedy.
The case is slated for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bompai for a more discreet and thorough probe.
Authorities intend to charge Usman with Mischief by Fire and Attempted Culpable Homicide once the investigation is concluded.
Police officials emphasized that the legal proceedings will be handled with the highest level of professionalism to ensure all facts are brought to light.
Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, condemned the act in the strongest terms, describing the attack as “criminal, inhuman, and unacceptable.”
Bakori has ordered an expedited investigation to ensure swift justice for the victims and assured the public that the Command would provide the necessary protection and support for the family throughout the upcoming legal process.
