By Deborah Nnamdi
An elderly Islamic cleric, Ladan Zubairu, was brutally murdered early Monday at Yusuf Garko Mosque in the Maraba Quarters area of Kano, triggering mob violence and widespread panic before security agents restored order.
The attack occurred shortly after dawn prayers. According to residents, the assailant struck inside the mosque moments after the cleric made the first call to prayer. The suspect was immediately chased by angry youths, lynched, and his house was later set ablaze, leading to the destruction of property in the neighbourhood.
Speaking with journalists, the deceased’s son, Isa Kasim, recounted how his father was attacked while observing his usual routine at the mosque.
“My father normally makes the first call to prayer and then sits to recite supplications before the second call,” Kasim said. “He had just finished the first call and was seated when someone entered the mosque with a weapon, grabbed him, and slaughtered him. His throat was slit.”
Kasim said members of the community quickly mobilized after the killing and tracked down the suspect. “By the will of God, the attacker did not escape. People gathered, pursued him, and killed him,” he said.
He further disclosed that after the suspect was lynched, residents made a disturbing discovery. “My father’s severed throat was found wrapped in a nylon bag inside the suspect’s pocket,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the Kano State Police Command described the killing as a heinous crime. In a statement, the command said the cleric, identified as Ladan Malam Zubairu, was brutally slaughtered by an unknown assailant at the mosque on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The police confirmed that eyewitnesses reported the suspect was lynched by an angry mob and that his residence was subsequently set on fire. They said security personnel were deployed to the area to restore calm and maintain law and order.
According to the command, investigators recovered the victim’s severed throat from the suspect’s pocket, while both bodies were evacuated to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano, where they were certified dead and are awaiting autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has ordered a full investigation into the incident, directing officers to ensure all those involved are brought to justice.
The police also appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with investigators, assuring the public that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.
