Police report that at least 11 worshippers lost their lives and dozens sustained injuries in a tragic incident where a man attacked a mosque in Nigeria’s northern Kano state.
Allegedly, the assailant sprayed petrol inside the mosque, locked its doors, and set it ablaze, trapping approximately 40 worshippers inside. The motive behind the attack stems from a family dispute over inheritance.
Authorities have apprehended a 38-year-old suspect in connection with the attack.
The horrifying incident occurred during morning prayers on Wednesday in the Gezawa area of Kano State. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of desperation as flames engulfed the mosque, with worshippers unable to escape due to the locked doors.
Local residents rushed to aid those trapped inside upon hearing the explosion caused by the fire. In response to the attack, rescue teams, including bomb experts from Kano, were swiftly deployed. However, subsequent investigations revealed that no explosive device was involved.
The Kano Fire Service expressed regret that they were not alerted promptly and lamented that they could have intervened more effectively had they been notified earlier.
According to police statements, the suspect confessed to perpetrating the attack as a result of a family dispute over inheritance. Local police chief Umar Sanda stressed that the incident was not linked to terrorism but rather emerged from a domestic altercation.
Despite initial reports indicating one casualty, the death toll rose as additional victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano. Among the injured are children, who are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.