By: Zubairu Idris
The Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’kamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Kankia local government, Katsina State, has announced closure of its 40-year-old Friday Mosque located at Layi quarters as a result of flooding.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Khalil Kasim, said henceforth, Juma’at (Friday prayer) would now be conducted at Masjid Ibn Taymiyya in Gurara, which is a five daily prayer Mosque.
He said, “as a result of flooding that submarged the Mosque, prayers will no longer be observed in the place until further notice.”
The JIBWIS Chairman in the area, Alhaji Umaru Bature, said that the decision was reached during a meeting with the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Malam Tasiu Umar and the Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Malam Alkhamis Rabiu.
He said that the one-storey Mosque, was constructed around 1985.
Bature revealed that experts advised the closure of the worship place because it has been submarged by water as a result of the flooding experienced recently in the town.
He said that mosque been a storey building, and since it has been submarged, it was dangerous for people to pray inside at that moment.
“We have closed it because it can collapse at any moment, now or even after the rainy season, water had already penetrated below the building’s foundation.
“So, that is why we took the decision, worshippers will feel secured during prayers.
“Not only Friday prayer, even five daily prayers should not be conducted there, as we have barricaded the entire area because.
“We intends to demolish it and construct another one,” he said.
He, therefore, solicited contributions from the entire Muslim faithful on its reconstruction.
“We welcome contribution from all in the cause of Allah. We already have our new building design for anyone with intention of constructing another one for us,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that flooding rendered hundreds homeless and destroyed properties estimated as billions of Naira.
An investigation revealed that was the first time in the history of the town it was experiencing such devastating disaster.
NAN
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