About 24 persons narrowly escaped death yesterday, after one Shafi’u Abubakar set a local mosque ablaze in Gezawa Local Council of Kano State.
The incident occurred during early morning prayers.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect carried out the act by setting fire to a drum containing an inflammable liquid with the aim of killing some of his family members.
A member of the community, who pleaded anonymity, said responders had to forcibly break the doors to set the trapped worshippers free .
When contacted, spokesperson for Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the arrest of the perpetrator.
He said: “We received a report of an explosion at a mosque in Gadan Village, Gezawa Local Council of Kano State during Subhi prayer, and that some people were injured.
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, immediately deployed the command’s combined teams consisting of experts in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN), led by CSP Haruna Isma’il and other crime-scene policemen, led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gezawa Division, CSP Haruna Iliya.
“On arrival, we found 24 persons, including 20 male adults and four male children who were removed from the burning mosque with burnt injuries.
“They were rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, where they are currently receiving treatment.”
Kiyawa added: “A forensic analysis conducted at the preliminary stage of investigation revealed a suspected petrol explosion of which a full investigation is ongoing. A principal suspect was identified and arrested.
“He is Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, who confessed to have carried out the action because of a prolonged family disagreement over sharing of inheritance.
“He said he decided to set the mosque ablaze after sighting in the mosque the family members who were cheating on him.”
