Man stabs grandparents to death over food dispute

A 30-year-old man, Mutawakilu Ibrahim, has been arrested by the Kano State Police Command for allegedly stabbing his grandparents to death during a heated argument over food at their residence in Kofar Dawanau Quarters, Dala Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the incident occurred on Thursday morning, around 9:30 am, and was promptly reported at the Dala Divisional Police Headquarters.

The suspect, believed to be under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the attack, allegedly used a knife to inflict multiple stab wounds on his grandfather, Muhammad Dansokoto, 75, and grandmother, Hadiza Tasidi, 65, following a disagreement over food.

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The victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead on arrival.

Their bodies were examined and subsequently released to family members for burial in line with Islamic rites.

In response to the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide Section, for a discreet investigation.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” the police spokesperson added.

Kano State, Nigeria’s most populous state, has witnessed an increase in reported cases of violent crimes within family settings in recent years.

Security experts and community leaders have often linked such incidents to drug abuse, mental health challenges, and rising economic hardship, which put pressure on family relationships.

The use of illicit substances, particularly among youths and young adults in Kano, has been a recurring concern.

Authorities and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that drug abuse often fuels violent behaviour and domestic disputes, sometimes leading to fatal outcomes.