KEY POINTS
- Kano State summons four witnesses against mosque arson suspect, Shafiu Abubakar.
- Eyewitnesses speak about a fire which claimed 23 lives in the course of morning prayer.
- Cross examination proceeded to be halted for trial to specifically resume on 24th of September
Four witnesses were paraded in court by the Kano State government on Tuesday against Shafiu Abubakar, who is standing trial for arson for burning down a mosque in Gezawa, Kano, during the morning congregation.
The gruesome event, which took place on May 15, led to the killing of 23 worshipers, and injuries to several others.
The prosecution led by Salisu Tahir the DPP of the Kano State enlightened the charges against Abubakar, which are culpable homicide, attempted murder, grievous hurt, and arson. The offences are unlawful under section 140, 148, 167 and 370 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.
The people who suffered the consequences of the shooting will tell the whole story
The first one was Abdulaziz Yahaya the Ward Head of Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village that was called in the morning and saw the victims with burn injury on their bodies. He said out of this number, 23 of them died while receiving treatment at the Sir Muhammad Sunusi Hospital.
When the trial began, the first witness to be presented to the court was Abdulaziz Yahaya the Ward Head of Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, who stated that he received a message of the fire early in the morning and when he arrived at the scene he saw people with deep burns. They were rushed to Sir Muhammad Sunusi Hospital, nonetheless 23 of them died while undergoing treatment said Yahaya.
Another witness, Shu’aibu Ibrahim, stated that the defendant opened another container with petrol and threw the content into the building and burnt the mosque after the first raka’at of the prayer and locked the doors, and people could not escape. Ibrahim Salisu was the third witness and he narrated the escape from the mosque and attempts to find assistance.
The defense counsel, Hasiya Muhammad who was the defence counsel sought to cross-examine all the four witnesses. For cross examination the case has been rescheduled to September 24.
