The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old man, Shafi’u Abubakar, for setting a mosque on fire in Laraba Abasawa, Gezawa local government area, trapping worshippers inside.
According to the State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Haruna Kiyawa, the suspect voluntarily surrendered to the police after committing the arson.
Shafi’u confessed to the police that he set the mosque ablaze out of anger and to target individuals he believed had cheated him in a family inheritance dispute, who were present in the mosque at the time.
“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,” SP Haruna Kiyawa stated.
The suspect is currently in police custody while investigations are ongoing.
The bizarre attack occurred during the early morning prayer, trapping around 40 worshippers inside the mosque. Shafi’u reportedly used petrol to ignite the fire and locked the door to prevent their escape.
It took some time for people outside to become aware of the incident and rescue those trapped inside, according to a member of the community who preferred anonymity.
The rescued victims, numbering 24, sustained varying degrees of burns and were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for treatment.
