Mosque Assault in the Northern Part of Nigeria's Kano Kills At Least 11 People

At least 11 worshippers were killed, and dozens injured after a man locked them inside a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, and set it on fire, allegedly over a family inheritance dispute. The horrific attack has drawn widespread condemnation.

About 11 worshipers were killed among a large number of people injured by a terrible attack on a mosque in Kano state, located in northern Nigeria in the morning of Wednesday. As reported by the police, the 38-year-old man is said to have poured fuel on the mosque, locking its doors from inside thus trapping around 40 individuals there, and then setting fire to it.

The suspect, already taken into custody confessed to perpetrating the crime, claiming his actions resulted from the inheritance money distribution issues between his family and that he was targeting particular members inside the mosque. Local police chief Umar Sanda stated that it was not terrorism but rather a clash among inheritors during a succession process that had occurred.

Neighbors informed the authorities who overheard an explosion from inside the burning mosque during morning prayers in the Gezawa location. They stepped on people in their haste to unlock the doors and liberate the sleeping ones, as the building was on fire. No less than 17 people were treated in nearby hospitals, several with injuries considered life-threatening.

The death count would increase with each hour as more and more victims succumbed to their injuries and died at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano. The local fire officials insisted that they could have responded faster if they had been alerted earlier, to control fire. At first, the police bomb disposal team also went in to confirm that no explosives had been used.

Also Read: Ghana and Nigeria, in the bid to repatriate looted artifacts, make a step forward

The shocking incident has raised public outrage also from the governor of Kano state who called it perplexing and asked all those who suspect "bad fellows" for such violence to report them to the authorities. The investigation of the detained suspect who is believed to have planned this cold-blooded crime is underway.