Justice has caught up with a notorious thief who had developed the habit of targeting worshippers during prayer hours. On Tuesday, a Shari’a Court sitting in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, sentenced one Yusuf Usman to six months in prison for stealing shoes belonging to worshippers at the Government College Mosque in Kaduna.
Usman, who was apprehended by members of the mosque committee, was charged with criminal trespass and theft. During the court proceedings, he pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.
Following his admission of guilt, the presiding judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, found him guilty and handed down a six-month custodial sentence. However, the court offered the convict an alternative to imprisonment by imposing a fine of ₦5,000.
In addition to the fine, Judge Muhammad ordered Usman to pay a compensation of ₦150,000 to the mosque committee. The judge warned that failure to pay the stipulated compensation would result in an extension of his jail term by an additional year.
During the trial, the prosecutor, ASP Luka Sadau, narrated how the incident occurred. He explained that Usman was apprehended on June 13 by vigilant members of the mosque’s committee shortly after the Friday (Jumaat) prayers. The committee members immediately handed him over to law enforcement authorities.
According to the police report, Usman confessed during interrogation that he had made a habit of attending mosques on Fridays, not for prayers, but to steal worshippers’ shoes. He further admitted that he would sell the stolen items at the Monday Market or in the Maraban Rido area.
The shoes stolen on the day of his arrest were reportedly worth ₦100,000, highlighting the scale of the theft and the financial loss inflicted on the affected worshippers.
The ruling has been praised by members of the local community, who have expressed hope that it will serve as a deterrent to others who might attempt similar acts within sacred spaces. The case also underscores the need for heightened security and vigilance at religious centers, particularly during large congregational gatherings.
