Floods Lead To Shutdown Of Historic 40-Year-Old Friday Mosque In Katsina

The Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’kamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Kankia, Katsina State, has confirmed the closure of its 40-year-old Friday Mosque located at Layi Quarters following heavy flooding.

The announcement was made by Sheikh Khalil Kasim, who confirmed that the Friday congregational prayer would now hold at Masjid Ibn Taymiyya in Gurara, a mosque that also accommodates the five daily prayers.

Sheikh Kasim stated, “As a result of the flood that submerged the Mosque, prayers will no longer be observed in the place until further notice.”

Alhaji Umaru Bature, the JIBWIS Chairman in the area, explained that the decision was taken after a meeting with the Chief Imam of the mosque, Malam Tasiu Umar, and the Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Malam Alkhamis Rabiu.

Bature noted that the one-storey mosque, built around 1985, was severely affected by the flood, prompting experts to advise its closure.

He emphasized, “The mosque, being a storey building, submerged by water, was dangerous for the people to pray inside it 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 deep below the building’s foundation, which is why we made the decision. Not only Juma’at prayer, but even the five daily prayers should not be conducted there, as we have already barricaded the entire area. We intend to demolish for reconstruction.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that recent floods had rendered hundreds of residents homeless and destroyed properties valued at billions of Naira.

NAN further reported that this was the first time in four decades that the town experienced flooding of such magnitude.