In a shocking incident that unfolded during the early morning ‘Subh’ prayer, 28-year-old Shafi’u Aminu deliberately set fire to a mosque in Larabar Abasawa, a community within Gezawa local government, Kano state.
According to victims, Aminu poured fuel inside the mosque and then locked the doors, trapping worshippers inside. The incident occurred on a Wednesday, leaving the community in shock and disbelief.
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Sadik Kamal, one of the injured victims, recounted his harrowing experience. As the flames engulfed the mosque, he desperately tried to escape but found the exit door securely locked.
Kamal revealed that Aminu had a history of violent behavior in the village. Previously, he had brandished a machete, threatening fellow villagers. Authorities had even arrested him once and sent him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
This recent act of arson was not an isolated incident. Aminu had previously set fire to his brother’s car and attacked him with a cutlass. His erratic behavior had raised concerns among the villagers, yet no decisive action was taken.
When the fire broke out during morning prayers, it was the latecomers who managed to break down the door and rescue those trapped inside. At least 29 worshippers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.
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Zabiya Ibrahim, whose three uncles were among the victims, called for justice. She emphasized that Aminu’s actions were deliberate and not the result of mental illness.
“He knows how to make money,” she said, referring to his involvement in riding a popular local tricycle (known as ‘Adai-Adai ta Sahu’). Ibrahim urged the government to hold him accountable for this reckless act.
An anonymous community member revealed that Aminu used petrol to ignite the fire while approximately 40 people were praying inside the mosque. The locked doors delayed the rescue efforts, leaving victims struggling to escape the flames.
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The incident underscores years of simmering tensions within Aminu’s family. His voluntary surrender to the police after the arson further complicates the situation. Meanwhile, Tabawa Abdurraman, whose father and two siblings suffered burns, pleaded for justice.
“We lost our mother last year,” she said. “Now, with my father seriously injured, we struggle to afford medicine. We implore the government to intervene and assist us during this difficult time.”