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Police arrest suspected arsonist for ‘killing 3 family members in Kano’
By Nazifi Dawud
The Kano police command has arrested the alleged mastermind of the arson attack in Ungoggo local government area of Kano state, where three family members including a 2-year-old baby died in an inferno.
The suspect, Salisu Idris, 25, is believed to have locked up the deceased family’s house and thereafter set the building ablaze, killing a 50-year-old Aminu Bala, his wife, Rukayya Aminu, 30, and their 2-year-old daughter Aisha Aminu.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Gayawa Tsohuwa village, Ungogo local government area.
ALSO Read: Arson fire kills husband, wife, 2-year-old daughter in Kano
Confirming the arrest of the suspect, Kano police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said Mr Idris was nabbed after the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, gave an order to arrest the perpetrator of the dastardly act within 24 hours.
“On Wednesday around 3am we received a report of a strange fire incident from Gayawa Tsohuwa in Ungogo local government area which we promised to investigate.
“Using our community policing strategies we were able to trace, track and arrest one person by name Salisu Idris of Gayawa Gabas village in the same ungogo local government area. We traced him and arrested him with some wounds on his body,” Mr Kiyawa, a deputy superintendent of police told journalists.
“We interrogated him and we found out that they were two that carried out the act and the other one is at large and very soon we’ll get him,” he added.
Answering questions from reporters, Mr Idris confessed that he was hired on a payment of N200,000 to carryout the heinous crime.
The suspect, who claimed to be a mobile phone seller at Farm Centre market in Kano city, added that he wanted to use the crime proceeds to enroll in Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano.
“A friend of mine asked me to accompany him to the house. He asked me to come along with him and that at the end of the operation he will give me N200, 000. We came around 2 pm. And when we came we both climbed unto the building with petrol and immediately the fire started, it caught me and burnt my hands and legs,” he said.
Mr Idris said he was traced and arrested after he tried to seek treatment at a local clinic in the community for the burns he had sustained during the arson attack.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Former Vice President, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo, has commended the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his bold decision to declare a state of emergency on education in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Sambo, who paid a condolence visit to Governor Yusuf over the death of renowned business mogul and elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, expressed admiration for the administration’s commitment to infrastructural renewal.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Monday.
“As an architect, I am particularly passionate about the ongoing rehabilitation and beautification of the Kano Government House,” Sambo noted.
“I was very happy and have been looking forward to the opportunity to commend you in person.”
He described the Governor’s efforts as “giant strides,” adding that the infrastructural transformation under the Yusuf-led administration is evident across Kano.
“Mr. Governor, you are doing well,” the former Vice President added. “I have been following the news, and on my arrival to Kano, I personally noticed the impressive infrastructural developments everywhere. You have effectively turned the Government House into a construction site.”
Governor Yusuf thanked the former Vice President for his visit and words of encouragement, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring Kano’s glory through purposeful governance and people-oriented projects.
His Excellency Namadi Sambo was in cimpany of Chairman Unity Bank, former Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi and a host of others.
In another development, Sen. Abubakar Sani Bello led another powerful delegation to condole with the Governor and the good people of Kano over the death of late Alhaji Amunu Dantata.
The former Governor of Niger state was accompanied by Sen. Bashir Garba Lado, Sen. Muhammad Ibn Na’Allah, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha among others.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has organized a sensitization workshop for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) clubs in 50 secondary schools across Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that that ten students, who were selected from each participating school, received the training on understanding GBV, preventive measures, and appropriate actions to take when faced with such situations.
Speaking at the closing of the training on Friday, Bashir Kabir Rabi’u, the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) officer of the AGILE Project in Kano State, said the workshop was aimed at raising awareness among female students on how to recognize and avoid GBV, as well as how to respond effectively if it occurs.
“This workshop brought together 50 school-based clubs established to fight GBV.
“We trained 10 students from each school to equip them with knowledge about gender-based violence,” he stated.
Rabi’u noted that the awareness campaign is part of efforts to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students.
He explained that the AGILE Project, which is supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Education, facilitated the program.
In her remarks, the Principal of Kukar Bulikiya Girls Secondary School, Hannatu Ado Gwaram, commended the AGILE program for organizing the training.
She pledged that the school would continue sensitizing students on ways to avoid becoming victims of GBV.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event also featured drama presentations and educative plays aimed at driving home the message of gender-based violence prevention.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Partnership For Learning For All in Nigeria (PLANE) in collaboration with Kano state government has commenced a 5-day workshop to develop a 2026-2028 Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) aimed at enhancing quality education.
KANO FOCUS reports that the workshop brings together stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, Budget and Planning, Finance, Development Partners, and Civil Society Organisations.
Speaking at the occasion, Commissioner of Education Dr Ali Haruna Makoda said Kano State Government has allocated 31.5% of its 2025 budget to boost quality education in the state.
According to him the budgetary allocation is part of a strategic plan to achieve quality education through due process and implementation.
Dr. Makoda emphasised the importance of strategic planning and implementation in achieving better results in the education sector.
He urged participants to implement what they would learn for the betterment of the state education sector.
Participants at the occasion
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Education Reforms, Haladu Mohammed, explained that the workshop would create a solid foundation for a 3-year education plan to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the state.
This initiative demonstrates the Kano State Government’s commitment to improving the education sector, aligning with its recent efforts to enhance education quality.
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