Zaria Central Mosque collapses on worshippers
*Emir, Chief Imam confirm incident
*6 death recorded so far, funeral 8pm today – Imam Dalhatu tells The DEFENDER
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State grieved Friday as a portion of Zaria Central Mosque collapsed killing six worshippers while several others secured injuries of varied degrees.
The Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, confirmed the incident when he said the victims were observing the Asri prayer around 4pm when the incident occurred.
Accordingto the Emir, “We had earlier observed a crack on the wall of the mosque yesterday, and was planning to deploy team of civil engineers to effect repairs, when this unfortunate incident happened.”
While condoling the family of the deceased, the Emir directed that people should pray outside the mosque pending the repairs.
Asked to comment on the development in a WhatsApp enquiry, the Chief Imam of Zaria, Sheikh Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, told The DEFENDER that the report “Is true. So far about 6 lives lost. The funeral holds 830pm of today day at the Palace,” he said.
In the meantime, the Emir of Zaria and Sarkin Zazzau, Bamalli, has directed that funeral prayer of all the corpses be observed today at 8.30pm at the Emir’s Palace.