A 38-year-old accused of setting a mosque on fire at Albasawa village, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Shafi’u Abubakar, has been charged with culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire.

The tragic incident that befell the sleeping Albasawa village in May this year left about 23 worshippers, who gathered to observe their early morning prayers, burnt to death.

At the resumed hearing on the matter before the Upper Shari’a Court on Tuesday, the Kano State government opened the case with four witnesses, including the ward head of Albasawa village.

The prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, told the court that the offenses contravened the provisions of sections 220, 140, 148, 167, and 370 of the Penal Code Law 2000 of Kano State.

Testifying before the court, the first witness, Abdulaziz Yahaya, 55, and ward head of Albasawa village, told the court that on May 15, at about 5:45 a.m., after prayer, he was informed that a mosque had been set on fire.

“On reaching the scene, I saw many people outside with burns, and we rushed them to Sir Muhammad Sunusi Hospital Kano. They were later transferred to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for treatment.

“23 people died while receiving treatment. The defendant surrendered himself to Gezawa Police Division. I was in a mosque in front of my house when the incident happened,” Yahaya told the court.

Another witness, Aminu Abubakar, 42, who claimed to be the elder brother of the defendant, testified that he was called on May 15, at about 5:15 a.m., about a problem in the mosque.

Abubakar narrated the internal crisis the family had been experiencing before the arson attack, which involved predominantly members of his family.

He said, “Our father died 15 years ago, and his properties were shared among us. The defendant had a misunderstanding with our late father’s younger brothers. He hit them on the head and inflicted injuries on them.

“The defendant went to the Hotoro Police Station, and I was advised to take him to the Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital Kano for treatment, where he was confirmed to be mentally stable.”

Abubakar further revealed how the mother of the defendant, in an attempt to resolve the internal crisis, sold her farm and gave the defendant N300,000 to buy a tricycle to start commercial transport as requested.

Similarly, the third witness, Shu’aibu Ibrahim, 25, testified before the court how the defendant set the mosque on fire with petrol after the first raka’at prayer.

Ibrahim Salisu, another witness who narrowly escaped death, also disclosed how he forcefully broke the entrance door and ran out of the mosque to seek help.

The defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to all the charges. The presiding Khadi, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, adjourned the matter to 24th September 2024 for the continuation of cross-examination.

Culpable homicide under Section 220 of the Penal Code attracts the death penalty by hanging or by firing squad.