A suspected Boko Haram member was yesterday lynched at the Kano Central Mosque where hundreds of worshippers were killed late last year. According to DailyTrust, the suspect was lynched by an irate mob around 11.30 am at the Kofa Kwaru area of the mosque as worshipers were congregating for the juma’at prayers.
Last November, over a hundred worshippers lost their lives at the mosque when insurgents hurled explosives at them and opened fire on others who tried to escape. It was gathered that the suspect was
pursued to the Kofar Kwaru area of the Emir of Kano’s palace where he was overpowered and lynched.
One worshipper, who said he witnessed the lynching, stated that a gun was found on the suspect, which prompted the mob action.
“The suspect went to drink tea around the mosque. It was the tea seller that raised an alarm that he saw a gun in the guy’s possession and that was what caused the commotion,” the witness said.But in a telephone interview, the spokesperson of the Kano State police command, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, who confirmed the lynching, said nothing incriminating was found in his possession.
“The identity and address of the suspect is still unknown. No explosive or weapon was found on the deceased’s body. We have not found any incriminating evidence on him and nobody has come out to give or tell us of any gun or explosive found on the deceased,” he said. The spokesman reiterated the command’s commitment to ensure the safety of all and appealed to the people of the state to desist from taking laws into their hands, saying jungle justice would not help.
Since the November 2014 attack on the mosque, youths and other volunteers have been mounting surveillance there and before worshippers are allowed in, they are thoroughly searched. Similar checks are conducted in other mosques across Kano State.