Tension and tragedy engulfed the Maraba Quarters area of Kano State on the morning of Monday, December 15, 2025, following a brutal attack inside a place of worship.
A Sacred Space Violated
The serene atmosphere of the Yusuf Garko Mosque was shattered after the first call to Muslim prayer. An Islamic cleric, identified as Ladan Zubairu, was attacked in a horrifying manner. According to accounts, the assailant entered the mosque, grabbed the cleric, and slit his throat.
The deceased's son, Isa Kasim, provided a chilling narrative of the event. He explained that his father had a routine of sitting briefly after the first call to prayer to recite supplications before the second call. It was during this moment of devotion that the attacker struck.
Swift and Deadly Community Retribution
The violence did not end within the mosque walls. News of the cleric's murder spread rapidly, inciting fury among local residents. An angry mob pursued the suspected killer.
The mob succeeded in tracking down the suspect. In a brutal act of vigilante justice, they lynched him. Furthermore, the mob set the suspect's residence ablaze. The grisly scene intensified the panic in Maraba Quarters before security forces could intervene.
In a disturbing detail, Kasim disclosed that residents found the cleric's severed throat wrapped in a nylon bag inside the slain suspect's pocket.
Police Response and Appeal for Calm
The Kano State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident. Police officers recovered the two bodies and transported them to the Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital for autopsy procedures.
CSP Kiyawa stated that police intervention was swift, aimed at restoring calm and preventing a further escalation of the crisis. He confirmed that normalcy has been restored to the area.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has ordered a thorough investigation into the tragic event. The police assured the public that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law. Authorities have appealed to residents to remain peaceful and to provide any useful information that could aid the ongoing investigation.
This shocking incident in Kano adds to a worrying pattern of violent attacks in places of worship and communities across Nigeria, raising urgent questions about security and the dangers of mob justice.
