The appalling attack unfolded on the morning of Wednesday, May 15, 2024, leaving 24 individuals with varying degrees of burn injuries. Following the rescue operation, the victims were swiftly transported to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for urgent medical attention.
According to a statement by SP Haruna Kiyawa, spokesperson for the State’s Police Command, Shafi’u voluntarily surrendered himself to law enforcement following the commission of the crime. In his confession, the suspect cited longstanding familial discord over inheritance disputes as the catalyst for his hostile act. He alleged that those he perceived as having wronged him were present in the mosque at the time, and his actions were intended to assert his grievances.
SP Kiyawa reiterated the suspect’s account, stating, “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 a prolonged 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.”
This disturbing revelation sheds light on the deep-seated tensions and personal conflicts that tragically manifested in the violent incident, underscoring the urgent need for resolution and reconciliation within communities to prevent such senseless acts of aggression.