Zaria mosque accident: Families of victims get cash donation from Kaduna government

The Kaduna government has donated N1 million to each of the families of the eight persons who died when a section of the Zaria central mosque collapsed. 

TheCable  reported that four persons were killed immediately and seven injured when a section of the 150-year-old Zaria central mosque caved in on Friday evening.

Uba Sani,  governor of Kaduna, announced the donation during a condolence visit to Ahmad Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, in Zaria on Tuesday.

Sani said each injured victim of the mosque collapse — currently receiving treatment — will be supported with N500,000 for medication.

The governor added that the other injured victims who have been discharged from the hospital would receive N200,000 each.

The governor, who was accompanied by top government functionaries during the visit, said the state government will renovate the worship centre. 

“We are working closely with the council and other key stakeholders on the best modalities of rebuilding the collapsed mosque,” NAN quoted Sani as saying. 

“This is an ugly tragedy; the Kaduna state government would do everything humanly possible to renovate the mosque and ensure ugly incidents like this did not happen.”  

While speaking, the Emir said the incident claimed eight lives, adding that three injured victims are awaiting surgeries at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. 

He said the mosque is one of the historical monuments of Kaduna state; constructed in 1835.

The monarch commended the state ministry of works, the Nigerian Society of Architects and the faculty of architecture of the Ahmadu Bello University on their efforts to reconstruct the mosque.

The Emir also appreciated the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad, several traditional rulers and top government functionaries, among others, who have commiserated with the emirate over the unfortunate incident.