President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered law enforcement agencies to ensure diligent investigation and prosecution of a suspect linked to the recent mosque fire incident in Gezawa local government area of Kano State.
The president condoled with the government and people of Kano State over the incident, which claimed many lives.
This came as the Kano State Police Command confirmed on Tuesday that the death toll from the arson has risen to 17.
The incident happened on May 15 after a man, Shafi’u Abubakar set fire to a mosque over a family dispute occasioned by the sharing of inheritance.
Tinubu’s condolence message was contained in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, titled ‘President Tinubu mourns victims of the Kano mosque fire incident.’
The president was quoted as condemning the act of arson, which led to this tragic development.
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President Tinubu, however, commiserated with the bereaved families and all those affected and prayed for quick recovery for the wounded.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command disclosed on Tuesday that 17 out of the 25 victims of the mosque attack in the Gezawa local government area of Kano have so far lost their lives.
SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the police spokesperson in the state, updated newsmen on the incident, adding that eight other victims are still receiving treatment at the hospital.
Kiyawa explained that two more victims died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
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He clarified that the command had been quoting 24 people as the total victims, but the actual number of those involved was 25, including the person who died at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
“Sixteen of the victims that died were among the 24 brought to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, while the remaining victim who died was taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital by his relatives.
“We have been quoting 24 as the total victims, but the actual number of those involved was 25, including the one that died at AKTH,” Haruna said.
Grassroots Parrot reported that an Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano had on Monday ordered the remand of a prime suspect in the incident, Shafi’u Abubakar, in a correctional center.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter till May 31, 2024, for a hearing.
The 38-year-old defendant was charged with grievous harm and culpable homicide. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.