A man identified as Shafiu Abubakar, set the Kano mosque ablaze on Wednesday, while worshipers were observing the ‘Subh’ prayer
By Kehinde Okeowo
Eight people have reportedly lost their lives following an arsonist attack on the Gezawa Mosque in Kano State on Wednesday morning.
Apart from the eight people who are deceased, another 17 worshipers are in critical condition and receiving treatment at the hospital..
TheNiche had earlier reported that a man who was later identified as Shafiu Abubakar, set the mosque ablaze in the early hours of Wednesday, while worshipers were observing the ‘Subh’ prayer.
A reliable source in the community who asked not to be named said the 38-year-old principal suspect sprayed the mosque area with petroleum, locked the door, and set it on fire, trapping about 40 worshippers inside.
It was also learnt that a family dispute over the sharing of inheritance prompted the alleged arsonist to set a Kano mosque ablaze.
However, while briefing journalists on the latest development on the incident, police said eight victims died while receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.
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Confirming the figure, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, added that 17 other worshipers are still receiving treatment at the hospital.
Kiyawa further noted that the victims died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the tragic incident.
Earlier on Wednesday, AIG Umar Mamman Sanda led a delegation of security personnel, including the Commissioner of Police in the State and the Director of DSS, on a visit to the victims at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
He said, “What happened is not associated with any act of terrorism, but rather, it was a skirmish that arose as a result of inheritance sharing.
“The suspect was said to be not satisfied with the distribution and was reacting to that.
“He is presently with us and is giving us useful information. It is really unfortunate. He used a locally made bomb to commit the crime.”