Man sets mosque with over 40 worshippers inside ablaze in Kano, gives reasons

…one killed, 24 injured

The suspect who allegedly set fire to a Mosque while over 40 worshipers were praying, Shafiu Abubakar, has surrendered himself to the police, and admitted carrying out the assault in retaliation over alleged unfair sharing of their inheritance.

The police have confirmed that 24 persons received different degrees of burns resulting from the incident in which Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, used petrol to set the mosque ablaze after trapping the worshipers in the mosque on Wednesday morning at Laraba Abasawa, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The victims who were later rescued by people around the mosque were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano where they are receiving treatment.

Abubakar told the police that he set the mosque on fire out of provocation to attack those who cheated him while sharing their family inheritance who were all present in the mosque at the time.

The Police Spokesperson, CSP Haruna Abdullahi Kiyawa, yesterday, said the person submitted himself to the authority and is now answering some questions.

“The principal suspect has been identified and arrested, he is Shafi’u Abubakar, aged 38 years, who said his action was purely in hostility following prolonged family disagreement over sharing of inheritance of which those that he alleged to have cheated on him were in the mosque at that moment and he did that for his voice to be heard.

“While the suspect is currently in police custody, detailed investigation is ongoing and will be made public in due course” the statement said.

The attack occurred while worshippers were observing the early morning prayer, which resulted in harming several members of the community.

Abubakar used petrol to ignite the fire, trapping approximately 40 worshippers inside the mosque. He then locked the mosque, worsening the situation and stopping them from escaping.

A member of the community, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said it took some time for people outside to become aware of the incident and rescue those trapped inside.