Mosque attack: Kano presents four witnesses to testify against arsonist

By Bashir Bello

KANO – Kano State government, Tuesday, presented four witnesses to testify against arsonist Shafiu Abubakar before an Upper Sharia court sitting in the state.

The Prosecution counsel and the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, presented the witnesses when the matter came up before the court.

The Kano State government had dragged Abubakar, 38-year-old to court on four count charges bordering on culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire.

The offence were said to contravened the provisions of sections 140, 148, 167 and 370 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.

The Prosecution Witness, PW1, Abdulaziz Yahaya, 55, Ward Head of Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, told the court that on May 15, at about 5:45 am after prayer, he was informed that a mosque had been set on fire.

“On reaching the scene, I saw many people outside with burns and we rushed them to the Sir Muhammad Sunusi Hospital Kano.

“They were later transferred to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for treatment.

“23 people died while receiving treatment. The defendant surrendered himself to Gezawa Police Division.

“I was in a mosque in front of my house when the incident happened,” he said.

Also testifying, the PW3, Shu’aibu Ibrahim, 25, testified that the defendant set the mosque on fire with petrol after the first raka’at prayer.

The PW4, Ibrahim Salisu, 23, said that after the incident, he ran out of the mosque to seek for help.

The defence counsel, Malam Hasiya Muhammad, cross-examined the PW1 – PW4.

Meanwhile, the presiding judge, Halhalatu Zakariyya, however adjourned the matter until 24th September, 2024, for continuation of cross examination.

Recall that Abubakar, was said to have allegedly sprayed a mosque in Gezawa area of Kano State with petrol, locked the door, and set the mosque on fire while the worshippers were observing their morning prayers (Subhi prayers), trapping over 30 of the worshippers inside the mosque and resulting in the death of 23.

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