Take Responsibility For Lagos Mosque Collapse And Rebuild Within Reasonable Time, MURIC Tells Sanwo-Olu Govt
Take Responsibility For Lagos Mosque Collapse And Rebuild Within Reasonable Time, MURIC Tells Sanwo-Olu Govt
MURIC said the collapse occurred after the mosque was hit by an excavation machine during the Zuhr prayer on Sunday afternoon.
The Lagos State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the state government to take responsibility for the collapse of a mosque in the Mushin area of the state on Sunday.
The collapse of the Papa Ajao Central Mosque claimed the lives of three people with several others injured.
MURIC said the collapse occurred after the mosque was hit by an excavation machine during the Zuhr prayer on Sunday afternoon.
In a condolence message released on Monday, the Chairman of MURIC in Lagos State, Dr. Busari Jamiu Muhammad, sympathised with the bereaved families and the injured faithful.
He also called for an investigation and asked the state government to compensate the families of those affected by the incident
The statement reads: “It was with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we received the news of the collapsed mosque and the resultant death of three Muslims in Papa Ajao. We sincerely condole with the families of the victims and the Lagos Muslim community.
“According to several reports and eyewitness accounts, the mosque, which is located on Yusuf Street collapsed as a result of excavation by the Lagos State Government in a bid to expand the road.
“We therefore call on the Lagos State government to investigate the incident. The lives and properties of citizens are paramount and the government must always put in place necessary protection for the populace whenever a construction is embarked upon, especially in a crowded area.
“There must be careful assessment of the road to be constructed and the likely risk faced by buildings which have domiciled in the area for decades. Life is sacred and it has no duplicate, therefore, adequate studies prior to the construction work is inevitable.
“Should the report above be true and the road expansion is found to have been ordered by the Lagos State Government (LASG), we demand adequate compensation for families left behind by the breadwinners killed in the accident. LASG must also pay the hospital bills of the injured as well as burial expenses of those who died.
“MURIC is in possession of a video clip that has gone viral showing the excavator machine at the scene of the accident minutes after it occurred. We charge LASG to take responsibility without much fuss. In addition, LASG has a moral and legal duty to reconstruct the mosque within a reasonable period.
“Lastly, we pray for the repose of the souls of our brethren who lost their lives to this ugly incident. They are Allah’s visitors and Muslim heroes who dedicated their lives to worshipping their Creator. May Allah be pleased with them all. We pray that Allah will accept their returns as faithful servants and admit them into blissful paradise as martyrs.”
“We equally pray for the injured ones, may Almighty Allah grant them quick recovery,” he added.