The death toll resulting from the bombing of a mosque in Gadan village, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, on May 15, has climbed to 21 individuals. Four additional victims have passed away, bringing the previously reported count of 17 to the updated total of 21. Among the worshippers present during the early morning attack, 25 sustained injuries. Initially, one individual lost their life at the scene, while 20 others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Muhammed Specialists Hospital in Kano, leaving only four survivors. Alhaji Bature AbdulAziz, Chairman of Friends of the Hospital, shared this latest update during a visit to the remaining victims, accompanied by members of the Kano Business Community.
The perpetrator, a 38-year-old man named Shafi’u Abubakar, executed the bombing using an improvised explosive device, causing significant harm. AbdulAziz noted, “We have so far lost 21 persons and we are left with only four other patients in the hospital,” commending the hospital’s staff for their diligent care of the victims.
Expressing gratitude, AbdulAziz, also the National President of the Patriotic Elders Forum, acknowledged the support and contributions from various individuals and entities, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Kano State Government, and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. He also thanked the Kano Business Community for their generous financial aid to both the victims and other patients receiving treatment at the hospital.
In response to the heinous act, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has directed the prosecution of the perpetrator in the Shariah Court, emphasizing his commitment to signing a death warrant if the suspect is found guilty and sentenced to death. According to the police, the suspect confessed that his actions stemmed from longstanding familial disputes over inheritance matters, targeting those he believed had wronged him and were present in the mosque.
On May 21, the suspect appeared before an Upper Shari’a Court in Rijiyar Zaki, Kano, facing charges of grievous hurt and culpable homicide. Haruna Dederi, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who is leading the prosecution, stated that the defendant ignited the mosque using petrol around 5:15 am on May 15, 2024, during dawn prayers.
