This article was updated on May 29, 2024.
During the Fajr prayers at northern Nigeria’s Kano mosque, a man attacked the mosque after setting fire to it, resulting in a deadly explosion that took twenty-one lives and around 45 worshippers including four children seriously injured.
The police have apprehended the criminal, a 38-year-old man resident of the same remote Gadan village area, where the mosque is located. Police spokesperson Abdullahi Haruna confirmed in the statement that the person set the mosque on fire due to prolonged family disagreement.
Police also confirmed that the person had already attacked the same family from time to time.
“The issue of disagreement (was) over inheritance sharing 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,” Police spokesperson Abdullahi Haruna’s statement said.
The incident has caused panic in Kano, the largest state in northern Nigeria, where the issues of unrest and violence are often reported.
Spokesperson Haruna further added that a preliminary forensic analysis suggested the explosion was caused by gasoline, while the full investigation report is still awaited.
The area has been cordoned off by the police as the injured were rushed to the emergency of the hospital in Kano.
Worshippers were locked inside the mosque, making their escape even more difficult.
Updates:
May 17, 2024: We have added the new number of death tolls.
May 18, 2024: We have added a new death count, which has risen to 15.
May 24, 2024: Added the latest death count.
May 29, 2024: Death toll has reached to 21.
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