At least 24 worshippers, including children, were injured in a Wednesday morning explosion at a mosque in Kano, northern Nigeria. Police say the blast stemmed from a family dispute, not a religious attack.
A 38-year-old local man confessed to carrying out the attack, which he claimed was motivated by a long-standing family argument over inheritance. Police spokesman Abdullahi Haruna stated the suspect targeted worshippers “purely in hostility” during their early morning prayers.
While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, preliminary analysis suggests a gasoline detonation. The injured were rushed to a hospital in the state capital, Kano. Authorities have cordoned off the scene for further investigation.
This attack has caused panic in Kano, a region that has seen periodic religious unrest. However, police emphasized that this incident was a personal dispute and not religiously motivated.
Local newspaper Daily Trust reported that the mosque doors were locked during the attack, hindering escape for worshippers. They also revealed the suspect had a history of violence related to the family disagreement.
“The disagreement was over sharing of inheritance,” the police statement confirmed. “Those he believed cheated him were present at the mosque, and he did this to make his voice heard.”
