In a tragic incident, at least 11 worshippers lost their lives and many others sustained injuries when a man launched an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s northern Kano state, according to authorities.
The assailant reportedly sprayed the mosque with petrol, locking its doors before setting it ablaze, trapping approximately 40 worshippers inside, police reported.
Authorities revealed that the attack stemmed from a family dispute over inheritance and have since apprehended a 38-year-old suspect in connection with the incident.
The assault occurred during morning prayers on Wednesday in the Gezawa area of Kano state, witnesses recounted. Flames engulfed the mosque, and cries for help echoed as worshippers struggled to escape the locked doors.
Neighbours rushed to aid those trapped inside upon hearing the explosion, local media recounted. Responding swiftly, rescue teams, including bomb experts from Kano, were dispatched to the scene, as per a police statement.
Contrary to initial speculation, police confirmed that a bomb was not involved in the attack.
The Kano Fire Service expressed regret that they were not alerted immediately when the fire broke out, which could have expedited their intervention. They learned of the incident only after locals had extinguished the flames, according to spokesman Saminu Yusuf.
The suspect, in custody, reportedly confessed that his actions were driven by the family inheritance dispute, targeting specific relatives present in the mosque, authorities disclosed.
Umar Sanda, a local police chief, emphasized that the incident was not linked to terrorism but rather a result of the inheritance dispute. He described it as “really unfortunate” while assuring that the suspect is cooperating with authorities and providing valuable information.
Initially reported as one casualty, the death toll rose as more victims succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, police revealed. Additional victims, including children, are currently receiving medical care at the hospital.
