A shocking incident occurred on Wednesday in Gezawa, Kano State, where a 38-year-old man named Shafi’u Abubakar set a mosque on fire during prayer time. The attack took place while worshippers were engaged in their early morning Subhi prayers.
Reports indicate that Abubakar locked the mosque doors, doused the building with petrol, and ignited the flames. This deliberate act was carried out with the intent to harm those inside. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported, though several individuals were injured.
SP Abdullahi Haruna, the spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, confirmed the arrest of the suspect. He explained that Abubakar’s motive was rooted in a desire for revenge. Abubakar claimed he was wronged in an inheritance dispute and targeted the mosque to retaliate against those he believed had cheated him.
In response to the emergency, police quickly secured the area. Twenty-four victims, including twenty adult men and four young boys, were rescued and taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital for medical treatment.
SP Haruna provided further details on the incident, stating that the police received a report of an explosion at the mosque around 5:20 AM on May 15, 2024. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, immediately dispatched a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts and other crime scene investigators to the site.
Preliminary forensic analysis suggested that the explosion was caused by petrol. The police are investigating thoroughly to uncover all details surrounding the event.
The main suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar, admitted to his actions, citing long-standing family disputes over inheritance as his motive. He believed those who had wronged him were present in the mosque and sought to make his grievances known through this drastic measure.
Currently, Abubakar is in police custody. Authorities continue their investigation and promise to release more information as it becomes available.
