Man set Kano mosque ablaze over unfair sharing of inheritance – Police

A man arrested for burning a Kano mosque, Shafiu Abubakar, has willingly submitted himself to the Police, claiming that he took the action due to unfair sharing of inheritance.

The Police in Kano have confirmed that 24 persons sustained different degrees of burns in the incident.

Abubakar, 38, used petrol to set the mosque ablaze after trapping the worshipers in the mosque Wednesday morning at Laraba Abasawa, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

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The victims, who were later rescued, were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano where they are receiving treatment.

Abubakar told the Police that he set the mosque on fire in a bid to retaliate against those who cheated him in the sharing of their family inheritance.

According to him, the persons where all present in the mosque at the time.

The Kano Police spokesperson, CSP Haruna Abdullahi Kiyawa, on Wednesday morning disclosed that Abubakar submitted himself and he is now answering questions.

“The principal suspect has been identified and arrested. He is Shafi’u Abubakar aged 38 years who 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 and he did that for his voice to be heard.

“While the suspect is currently in Police custody, detailed investigation is ongoing and will be made public in due course,” the spokesperson said.

The attack occurred while worshippers were observing the early morning prayer.

Abubakar used petrol to ignite the fire, trapping approximately 40 worshippers inside the mosque. He then locked the mosque, worsening the situation and stopping them from escaping.

A member of the community, who did not wish to be named, said it took some time for people outside to become aware of the incident and rescue those trapped inside.