No fewer than eight worshippers were reportedly killed and 25 others injured when a section of the 150-year-old Zaria Central Mosque collapsed during a prayer session on Friday.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 4 p.m. while the worshippers were praying.
Mallam Shehu Nagari, one of the survivors, said the incident happened when they were in the second Sujud of Asr prayer.
According to him, the afflicted worshippers were buried beneath the rubble because the portion was built with mud more than 150 years ago.
Confirming the incident, the Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, stated that the victims were observing the Asr prayer around 4 p.m. when the incident occurred.
“We had earlier observed a crack on the wall of the mosque yesterday (Thursday) and were planning to deploy a team of civil engineers to effect repairs when this unfortunate incident happened,” he added.
While expressing his condolences to the victims’ families, the monarch invited Muslim faithful to pray outside the mosque until repairs were completed. He stated that a funeral prayer for the deceased would be held in the palace at 8.30 p.m. on Friday.
Speaking to newsmen on Friday night, the Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the deaths of eight people in the incident.
Spokesperson of the Police Force in the state, Mohammed Jalige, said, Yes, the incident happened, and unfortunately, eight people died while 25 people were rescued after the incident.
“The state Commissioner of Police has directed a full-scale investigation with a view to unveiling the cause of the collapse. But currently, we know that there was this ancient building built by one of the emirs in the past, and it has been there, I think, for more than 100 years. It was not demolished even after the renovation of the mosque”.
