In a distressing incident in Kano State, a man set fire to a mosque during early morning prayers, resulting in injuries to 24 worshippers. The attack took place at Laraba Abasawa in the Gezawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano.
The Kano State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed that the suspect, identified as Shafiu Aminu, was arrested following the incident. The attack reportedly occurred during the “Subhi Prayer” at a local mosque. Prompt action by law enforcement led to the arrest and evacuation of the injured.
“Upon receiving the report of an explosion at the mosque, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc, quickly deployed the command’s combined teams to the scene,” Kiyawa stated. The first responders found that 24 individuals, including 20 male adults and four male children, had sustained burn injuries and were promptly taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano for treatment.
Initial forensic analysis suggested a suspected petrol explosion was responsible for the fire. Further investigation revealed that the suspect had a motive rooted in personal grievances. According to Kiyawa, the 38-year-old Aminu confessed to setting the mosque on fire because of a prolonged family disagreement over the sharing of inheritance. He targeted the mosque after seeing family members he believed were cheating him out of his inheritance.
The incident has shocked the community, highlighting the potential for personal disputes to escalate into violence affecting innocent bystanders. The police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
