By Kazeem Waris
The Yobe State Police Command has donated cash and relief materials to Abubakar Idi, who lost his two wives and two young children in a house fire at Rugan Badali Fulani settlement in Karasuwa Local Government Area.
The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, presented the items to Idi at the command headquarters in Damaturu on Friday, nearly two months after the August 21, 2026, incident.
The donation, made under the command’s welfare scheme, was intended to ease the bereaved father’s hardship while investigations continue.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu Aliyu, said the package included three pairs of men’s kaftans, two caps, two pairs of shoes, two water jerrycans, a kettle, cooking pots, a food flask, a mat, a blanket, a rubber drum, a bag of millet and cash assistance.
Jibrin expressed sympathy to Idi and said the intervention was intended to provide comfort and ease some of the difficulties caused by the tragedy. He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to public welfare and thorough investigations in accordance with the law.
The incident attracted widespread attention after a video interview with a Nigerian Television Authority reporter circulated on social media. In the recording, a nine-year-old boy reportedly admitted to stealing his father’s fowl and setting the family house ablaze.
The boy reportedly linked his action to being beaten by his father over the theft. However, the recorded admission does not, by itself, establish every fact relating to the deaths.
According to the police, operatives of the Jajimaji Police Division arrested the boy and transferred him to the state command for further investigation. The command said appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the law, taking into account the suspect’s age.
Idi thanked the commissioner and the police command for the assistance. He also commended the police for investigating the incident and working to trace the person allegedly responsible.
