Police in Kano State have confirmed the killing of a man at a mosque in the Maraba Quarters area of Kano metropolis, where violence later escalated into mob action and arson before security forces restored order.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 15, 2025, at the Yusuf Garko Mosque, where residents discovered the body of Ladan Malam Zubairu, a male indigene of the community, after an unidentified assailant allegedly attacked and slaughtered him within the mosque premises.
The killing triggered panic and outrage among residents who rushed to the scene.
Eyewitnesses reported that community members immediately pursued the suspect, whom they accused of carrying out the attack.
The crowd eventually apprehended and lynched him before security operatives arrived.
The violence extended beyond the lynching, as the mob proceeded to the suspect’s residence and set it on fire, destroying property.
Police operatives later intervened and deployed personnel to the area to contain the unrest and prevent further violence.
Security presence was reinforced to stabilize the community and avert reprisal attacks, bringing the situation under control.
Confirming developments in the case, the Command’s spokesperson disclosed a disturbing recovery made during preliminary investigations.
CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa said, “Police investigation team has recovered the victim’s throat from the suspect’s pocket, and both bodies have been taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital Kano, all certified dead and awaiting autopsy.”
Authorities have since transferred the remains of both the victim and the suspect to the hospital for post-mortem examinations, as investigators work to establish the motive behind the killing and the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Bakori, has ordered a detailed investigation into the crime, including the murder, the subsequent lynching, and the destruction of property that followed.
Bakori noted that police investigators are examining witness accounts and physical evidence to determine accountability at every stage of the violence.
Subsequently, the police have called for calm, urging residents to allow law enforcement agencies to handle the investigation rather than resort to self-help.
The command emphasised that public-sourced credible information could be crucial to the inquiry and assured residents that any information provided would be handled discreetly.
