The Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’kamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State, has announced closure of its 40-year-old Friday mosque located at Layi Quarters due to 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, Umaru Bature, said that the decision was reached during a meeting with the Chief Imam of the mosque, Tasiu Umar and the Chairman of the mosque committee, Alkhamis Rabiu.

He said that the one-storey mosque, was constructed around 1985.

Mr Bature stated that experts advised the closure of the worship place because it was 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 at the moment.

Mr Bature said, “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.’’

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

He added, “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.’’

Recall that flood recently rendered hundreds of people homeless and destroyed property estimated to be worth billions of Naira.

It was gathered that it was the first time in the past four decades in the history of the town to experience such devastation.

(NAN)