Death toll rises in Nigeria mosque collapse

Death toll from a mosque that collapsed on Friday in the northern part of Nigeria rose to 12 on Saturday, according to officials.

This follows the death of some of the injured victims who were earlier rescued from the site.

The late victims were observing the Asr -evening prayer- when the building collapsed in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, at about 4 pm local time.

In separate remarks, Jama’atul Nasir Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Kaduna state Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, were among those who expressed condolences for the dead and injured victims of the tragedy.

In a statement issued by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, one of the apex Muslim bodies in Nigeria,called upon the state government to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the tragic incident.

According to him, “safety measures should be reviewed and implemented where necessary to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

Prof. Aliyu added that JNI “stands in solidarity with the Zazzau Emirate during this challenging time. We will continue to identify with the Ummah and the entire humanity, seeking for ways to help ease the pain caused by this tragic incident.”

On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria described the death of worshippers in the collapsed mosque as shocking and unfortunate.

“We, at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) extend our heartfelt condolences to the Muslim Ummah in Zaria and the entire nation following the tragic loss of lives and injuries following the collapse of a section of the historic Zaria Central Mosque during Friday’s prayer session,” the statement said.

“It is with shock that we received the news of the untimely demise of at least 10 worshippers, and we offer our sincere prayers and condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident.

“We also extend our thoughts and prayers to the 25 individuals who sustained injuries, and we pray for their quick and complete recovery.

“The Zaria Central Mosque holds significant historical and religious value, having stood as an important place of worship for over 150 years. The statement added.