Headlines

JUST IN: Kano Police Arrests Suspect behind Mosque fire

Newspointer May 15, 2024

By Salejo Ali, Kano

The Kano State Police Command has revealed that, it has arrested the suspect behind the early morning Wednesday’s fire explosion in a Mosque at Gadan Village, Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Police spokesperson Abdullahi Kiyawa in a press statement,
“at about 0520hrs, reports were received that, there was an explosion at a Mosque in Gadan Village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State during “Subhi Prayer” and that some people got injured.”

He said, on receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP 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.

Kiyawa explained that, the principal suspect Shafi’u Abubakar aged 38 have been identified and arrested.

The Police spokesperson noted that, the suspect who is cooperating with the Police said, his action was purely in hostility following prolong family disagreement over sharing of inheritance of which those that he alleged to have cheated on him were in the mosque at that moment adding that, he the (suspect) did that for his voice to be heard.

“The scene was cordoned-off and twenty-four (24) victims including 20 Male Adults and 4 Male Children were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano where they are currently receiving treatment.”

Kiyawa added that, Forensic Analysis at this preliminary stage revealed a suspected petrol explosion of which full investigation ongoing.

“The suspect is currently in police custody, detai investigation is ongoing and will be made public in due course”.

Recalled that, the arson attack occurred while worshippers were observing the early morning ‘Subh’ prayers Wednesday, resulting in harm to members of the community.

According to reports from eye witness, the assailant used petrol to ignite the fire, trapping approximately 40 worshippers inside the mosque. The perpetrator then locked the mosque, exacerbating the situation and hindering the victims’ escape.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *