Man who petrol bombed Kano mosque arrested; claims some people cheated him out of his inheritance

The Kano State Police Command has arrested the principal suspect behind the early morning explosion in a mosque at Gadan village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

Members of the community were observing the “Subhi Prayer” on Wednesday morning, May 15, 2024, when the suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar, set the mosque on fire with petrol and locked it to prevent the worshippers from escaping. 

Spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed the arrest said 24 people sustained various skin burns injuries in the suspected petrol explosion while death was recorded. 

According to the PPRO, the suspect confessed to the crime, saying his action was purely in hostility following prolonged family disagreement over sharing of inheritance.

He claimed that those who cheated him out of the inheritance were in the mosque at that moment and he carried out the act to voice out his grievance. 

“Today, 15/05/2024 at about 0520hrs, reports were received that, there was an explosion at a Mosque in Gadan Village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State during “Subhi Prayer” and that some people got injured,” the statement read.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc immediately deployed the command’s combined teams consisting of experts in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) led by CSP Haruna Isma’il and other Crime-Scene Policemen led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gezawa Division, CSP Haruna Iliya.

“The scene was cordoned-off and twenty-four (24) victims including 20 Male Adults and 4 Male Children were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano where they are currently receiving treatment.

“Forensic Analysis at this preliminary stage revealed a suspected petrol explosion of which full investigation ongoing.

“The principal suspect have 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.”