On Friday, August 11, 2023, a portion of the Zaria central mosque fell, causing at least four worshipers to be reported dead and four more to be injured.
Shehu Nagari, a survivor who participated in prayer at the mosque alongside the victims, claimed that the tragedy occurred during the second Sujud of Asr Prayer.
He said the incident which happened suddenly affected a portion of the mosque that collapsed on the those sitting directly at the section.
Nagari pointed out that he couldn’t ascertained the number of the victims.
Confirming the incident, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, said the victims were observing the Asr prayer around 4pm when the incident occured.
He said, “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.
The Emir directed that funeral prayer of all the corpses will be observed by 8.30pm at the emir’s palace on Friday.