Son to die by hanging for setting mother ablaze

A Minna high court has sentenced Steven Jiya, a resident of Darussalam Area of Minna, Niger State, to death by hanging for setting his mother ablaze.

The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, who handed down the judgement, said Steven poured petrol on his mother and set her ablaze resulting in her death as such he was found guilty of culpable homicide.

Justice Halima said the crime was punishable under Section 221 of the penal code law.

Steven Jiya was arraigned by the office of the Attorney General of the State for setting his mother, Mrs Comfort Jiya, a retired principal ablaze in December 2021.

Justice Halima pointed out that the prosecuting counsel established his case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the evidence and prosecuting witnesses who testified against the convict convinced the court that the convict was responsible for the killing of his mother.

She, therefore, ruled that the convict be hanged by the neck until he’s confirmed dead.

Late Mrs. Comfort Jiya was a former Principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Sabon Wuse and Maryam Babangida Girls’ Science College, Minna.

Steven, who was described as a drug addict, reportedly returned from Suleja in December 2021 and poured petrol on his mother while she was in her kitchen at her residence in the Darussalam Area of Minna.