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, who said that the Friday congregation prayer would now be conducted at Masjid Ibn Taymiyya in Gurara, which is a five daily prayer Mosque.

He said, “As a result of flood that submerged 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 for the closure of the worship place because it has been submerged by water as a result of the flooding experienced recently in the town.

He said that Mosque, being a storey building, submerged by water, it was dangerous for the people to pray inside it the 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, so, that is why we took the decision.

“Not only Juma’at prayer, even the five daily prayers should not be conducted there, as we have already barricaded the entire area.

“We intend to demolish for reconstruction,” Bature said.

He, therefore, solicited contributions from the entire Muslim faithful, and corporate organisations from within and outside the country for the reconstruction.

“We welcome contributions from all in the cause of Allah. We already have our new building design for anyone with intention of reconstructing another one for us,” he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that flood had recently rendered hundreds of people homeless and destroyed properties estimated to be worth billions of Naira.

NAN gathered that it was the first time in the past four decades in the history of the town, it was experienced such devastations. (NAN)