A QUITE dawn worship at a mosque in Kano metropolis on Monday turned bloody after an elderly Islamic cleric was brutally murdered inside the place of worship, sparking outrage, mob violence and panic across the community.
The victim, identified as Ladan Zubairu, was killed at the Yusuf Garko Mosque located in the Maraba Quarters area of Kano, shortly after he made the first call to prayer (adhan) in the early hours of the morning.
News Point Nigeria gathered that the suspect, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, stormed the mosque armed with a sharp weapon and attacked the cleric while he was seated inside the mosque.
According to eyewitness accounts, Zubairu had completed the first call to prayer and, in line with his routine, sat briefly to recite supplications while awaiting the second call when the attacker struck.
Speaking with journalists, the deceased’s son, Isa Kasim, recounted the horrifying incident.
“My father had gone out early to call Muslims to prayer. After the first call, he usually sits down to make supplications before the second call. While he was seated, someone entered the mosque, grabbed him and slaughtered him. His throat was slit,” Kasim said.
The gruesome killing immediately triggered anger among residents of the area. Youths reportedly mobilised, chased the assailant through nearby streets and eventually caught him.
Kasim confirmed that the suspect was lynched by an angry mob shortly after the attack.
“By the will of God, the attacker did not escape. Members of the community pursued him, caught him and killed him,” he said.
Further heightening the shock, residents later discovered that the suspect allegedly had the cleric’s severed throat wrapped in a nylon bag inside his pocket, a revelation that intensified tensions in the neighbourhood.
In the aftermath, the suspect’s residence was reportedly set ablaze by irate youths, causing widespread panic and forcing residents to flee their homes before security operatives arrived to restore order.
Confirming the incident, the Kano State Police Command said it had deployed officers to the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said security personnel intervened swiftly to calm the situation.
“Our officers quickly intervened to restore calm and prevent further escalation. Normalcy has now returned to Maraba Quarters,” Kiyawa stated.
He disclosed that the bodies of both the slain cleric and the suspected attacker were recovered and taken to the Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing and the subsequent mob action.
“We are committed to ensuring that anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law,” the police spokesman added.
Authorities have appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid the ongoing investigation.
The incident has renewed concerns over rising violence, mob justice and security around places of worship in parts of the country.