The death toll from the devastating attack on Gezawa Mosque has risen to 11, according to local authorities and residents. The attack, which took place during a prayer session, left numerous victims with severe injuries.
Kano State Police Command initially reported that eight of the 24 victims had succumbed to their injuries. However, Rabiu Gadan, a resident of the village, confirmed that the total number of fatalities has now reached 11.
“Eight funerals have already been conducted, and the bodies of the remaining three victims are being prepared for burial today,” Gadan said.
The principal suspect, 38-year-old Shafi’u Abubakar, has been arrested. Abubakar confessed that his actions were motivated by revenge over a disputed inheritance, claiming he had been cheated by family members who were present in the mosque at the time of the attack. The police are holding him in custody as they continue their investigation.
SP Abdullahi Haruna, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, elaborated on the details of the attack and the resulting casualties.
“The victims died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the unfortunate incident. Seventeen other victims are still receiving treatment at the hospital,” Haruna said.
Eyewitness accounts revealed the horror of the attack. Sadik Kamal, a survivor, described the desperate attempts to escape as flames engulfed the mosque.
“It was the latecomers who struggled to open the locked doors to make good the escape of those trapped to safety,” Kamal recounted.
Abubakar’s violent history has also come to light. According to Gadan, this was not his first outburst. Abubakar had previously assaulted two of his older brothers and turned himself in to the police, claiming he had killed them.
The police spokesman confirmed that Abubakar used petroleum to set the mosque ablaze after locking the doors, ensuring maximum casualties among those trapped inside.
“The suspect is currently assisting us in the ongoing investigation,” Haruna stated.
As the community mourns the loss of their loved ones, authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.