Hundreds of worshippers were in the building at the time on Friday.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the collapse. The emir of the area told local media a crack had been discovered in one of the walls on Thursday.

The mosque is thought to be more than a century old. Nigeria has a long history of buildings collapsing.

“Four bodies were found initially,” a council spokesman Abdullahi Kwarbai told Reuters news agency.

“Then three others were found after the rescue team searched the collapsed mosque,” Mr Kwarbai added.

A team of engineers had been organised to fix the crack in the building, the Emir, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, told Punch News.

The said man was exposed by a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) which captured the moment he stole from a Mosque.

In a footage in circulation, the man is seen already in the building, as though he was offering his prayers.

After his scout proved the coast was clear, the man shunned his prayers and headed straight to his target.

It isn’t his action that has caused a stir, but what he stole; a light bulb hanging in its socket.

After he successfully unscrewed the bulb, he hid it inside a black polythene and headed for the exit.

Watch the video below:

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The incident reportedly happened at Kebbi State in Nigeria though the cause of the sudden sleep still remains a mystery.

The suspect has been identified as Hamza Usman, aged 31.

According to a Facebook narrator, Ahmed Yakubu sneaked into the mosque at night while residents were sleeping.

He claimed he embarked on the operation with two others who were not in sight at the time he was busted.

According to the thief, he managed to steal mobile phones and other valuables but suddenly fell asleep midway in an attempt to steal more items.

However, luck eluded him and was arrested as worshippers began trooping in for their early morning prayers and handed him over to the police.

During the Eid al-Adha celebrations, President Assimi Goita was targeted while he was offering prayers in the central Mosque.

Earlier reports suggest that the assassin gained entry under the pretext of being an usher to welcome dignitaries for the auspicious occasion.

Mali’s Religious Affairs Minister, Mamadou Kone, told newsmen that the attacker lunged at Goita. He also said unconfirmed reports said the President was stabbed in the arm.

But, in the recently released footage, it shows that the assassin was aiming for Goita’s head.

The male suspect sprung past the worshippers and rear choked the President while attempting to slash his throat.

The assassination attempt was foiled by some state security personnel and the suspect was apprehended and blindfolded.

The interim leader was whisked away, according to an AFP news agency journalist, who also said he saw blood at the scene, though it was not clear who had been wounded.

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Marking this year’s Eid-ul-Adha’s auspicious occasion, the popular Dean of Ogbere Catholic Deanery, Reverend Father Peter Ayanbadejo, joined Muslims at the Central Mosque for prayers.

In photos shared on Facebook, the priest was seen in his cassock with a rosary on his neck while sitting on a mat inside the mosque.

He looked focused as he seemed to be emulating the prayer procedure.

After the Eid prayers, he joined his Muslim counterparts for a photo session, as some of the leaders could be seen shaking him and expressing delight in his presence.

The excitement on their faces was evidence of an inter-religious unity that exists in the State.

This is, but one of the few times, a clergyman has participated in activities of a non-Christian faith and vice versa.

The grand mufti and leader of Ghana’s Muslim community, National Chief Imam, Sheik Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, pioneered the movement.

To ensure that the two major religious groups live in unity, the National Chief Imam attended a Sunday mass at the Christ the King Church in Accra, during his 100th birthday celebrations.

More photos below:

A statement signed by Chief Ishak Sulleman Naaba Sigirie (I), General Secretary of the Council of Chiefs said the sudden surge in active cases of Covid-19 in the country and its impact on the Zongo Community has underscored the need for some measures to be taken to save Muslim communities.

It said the observance of the protocols remained key to reducing infections and appealed to the Office of National Chief Imam to ensure that there were Veronica buckets, soap and water available at the entrance of every Mosque.

“There must be mandatory wearing of nose masks in the Mosques. Anyone who enters without one has to be ejected from the premises for the safety of all and strict observance of social distance in Masjids,” the statement said.

The council called for re-orientation of Imams and officials in all Mosques on Covid-19 to help fight the pandemic, adding that they were ready to work with the Office of the National Chief Imam.

 According to reports, the deceased complained to the Imam about not feeling well and asked for permission to sleep in the mosque for the night and continue his journey the next day.

However, they returned the next day to perform their morning prayer only to find the stranger lifeless so they reported the issue to the police.

DSP Samuel Amofa of the Kasoa Ofaakor police station, confirmed the incident to Adom News.

He explained that the mosque was disinfected before they could convey the body.

“We inspected his bag and found his hospital card and some medicines which indicated that he was sick,” he revealed.

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Though the police and the Imam have not been able to trace his background, the body has been deposited at the Police Hospital for investigations.

DSP Amofa has, therefore, appealed that anyone with information that can help the police should not hesitate to visit the Ofaakor Police Station.

The deceased, Baba Haruna Suleiman, was said to be cleaning the mosque together with other committee members when the incident occurred.

Basiru Sheihu, an eyewitness, told Ghana News Agency that following the easing of restrictions on the public gathering by the President, the Committee at the Al- Albayan Mosque decided to clean and tidy the place for prayers on Saturday.

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He said due to the dusty nature of the woolen carpets in the mosque, they decided to use an electric hover to speed up the process.

Mr Sheihu said whilst hovering the dust, a power fluctuation occurred and Baba Suleman, who was then holding the hover was electrocuted by an exposed cable and he fell unconscious.

He was rushed to the hospital but died on arrival.

President Akufo-Addo yesterday eased the restrictions on mosques which will take effect from June 5, churches on June 7th and ultimately open schools for final year and university students on June 15.

Places of worships, however, are expected to have a maximum of 100 worshipers who will partake in the hour-long service.

The much anticipated announcement has generated mixed reactions.

The most lamenting category is the students who hinted their desire for education was dashed by the number of months spent at home.

Some questioned why the president will lift the restrictions at the time when the novel virus is at its peak, claimed 36 lives and infected over 8,000 people.

Several people were reportedly hurt after the van ploughed into a crowd outside Finsbury Park Mosque, where hate cleric Abu Hamza once preached, as they finished Ramadan evening prayers called taraweeh.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing bystanders wrestle the suspect to the floor and pin him down until officers arrived.

Others suggested that the congregation of victims were trying to save a man who had collapsed at a bus stop.

Emergency service crews were also spotted trying giving cardiac massages to the injured in a desperate bid to save them.

Twitter users claimed the victims were Muslims leaving late-night prayers being observed for the month of Ramadan.

Photo: Police were called just after midnight to reports of a vehicle in collision with pedestrians in Seven Sisters Road

Finsbury Park Mosque has undergone radical changes under new leader Mohammed Kozbar since the days when hook-handed Hamza was imam there from 1997 until 2003.

Mr Kozbar told The Sun: ‘Whoever did this, he did it to hurt people and it’s a terrorist attack.

‘We call it a terrorist attack as we called it in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge.’

Witnesses told MailOnline that they saw two additional suspects run away once the van had stopped.

Atikur Arhman, 41, from Finsbury Park, said: ‘There was three people in there. They caught one and are looking for another two.

‘An elderly man who just came from the mosque, he just fainted and people were picking him up when the van he just sped up and ran them over when the guy was one the floor.

‘People said the driver had a gun with him.

‘It’s not safe anymore after what’s been happening. It’s not been safe to walk.

‘Two people ran away and one got taken away to the police.

Another witness added: ‘When they stopped two guys run away and with one guy people stopped him.’

‘If he’d gone for the main entrance then maybe 15 or 20 would have been killed.‘

He added he heard there had been fatalities but did not want to ‘jump to conclusions.’

A different anonymous witness said: ‘There was three people beside the van, just one van. One is tall and the other two people ran away.

‘The people finished with the mosque and were going home normally and then the van bumped into them.’

Jamal, 21, told MailOnline: ‘I think it’s terrible what happened in so many locations I don’t know if I’m going to be alive tomorrow, I’m worried what’s going to happen tomorrow, it’s scary

‘It’s not safe in London, total, 100 per cent it is not safe, I’m worried to come out of my house right now, it’s not safe.’

A Metropolitan Police helicopter was seen circling overhead as photographs posted on social media showed a huge response from the emergency services.

Dozens of police cars and vans cordoned off a large area of the normally bustling thoroughfare as stunned locals gathered at the scene.

Images on Twitter appeared to show a clean-shaven white man with black hair being detained by police officers behind a van, surrounded by a group of shouting onlookers.

The vehicle in question appears to have been rented from a company based in Wales, Pontaclun Van Hire.

A woman named Hajal said her sister witnessed the immediate aftermath of the incident.

She told LBC Radio: ‘Everyone was just running everywhere she didn’t realise what was going on at first until she people on the floor.

‘She ran to see first victim and realised it was a family friend.’

‘An old man didn’t have a pulse. Police came and took over. She said it could have been an accident.

‘At first she thought there was some sort of fight. There were 15 to 20 people hitting somebody – she didn’t realise it was the man who ran over the people.

‘She said someone was still under the van but he was breathing. The second [more seriously injured] person was family friend who at first said he couldn’t feel his legs.’

Another person who lives nearby, Ishmael, told the station: ‘I pray there regularly. I’m there right now. There’s a very close friend of mine and in a very bad critical condition.

‘I hear from the other guys that they just stand there and have a coffee.

‘The van drove to there. I had just left the area because I wasn’t feeling very well.

‘One of my friends witnessed it. He told me the van went through the people standing there. 6 or 7 people, and one Asian guy is definitely dead.

‘My friend is in bad critical condition. He was under the van. His head was bleeding.

‘Someone took a video of him. Very shocking video. He’s got family and a wife.

‘The police answered the phone and told me he’s alright. But the other friend they don’t really know his condition. They’re both in ambulances and heading to a London Hospital.

‘Something’s going to happen here one day here. Since that incident I had a feeling something was going to happen to the Mosque. We don’t have no security.

‘This is Ramadan and there was no security at all. Anyone who wants to do anything can come there. If someone wants to kill hundreds they can come there easily.’

Cynthia Vanzella said on Twitter: ‘Horrible to watch police officers doing cardiac massage at people on the floor, desperately trying to save them. I just hope they did.’

Another social media user reported: ‘Islamaphobic attack in Finsbury Park right now. A van swerved off the main road and ran over several Muslim men.’

Another witness told the BBC: ‘Very shortly after getting home form the window I started hearing a lot of yelling and screeching and a lot of chaos outside so I ran down the street to see what happened and everyone was shouting a vans hit someone.

‘People were shouting that this was a white supremacist attack people were very angry, police were very calm and kept moving people back.’

A Met spokesman said officers were called at 12.20am ‘to reports of a vehicle in collision with pedestrians’.

They added: ‘Officers are on scene with other emergency services. There are a number of casualties being worked on at the scene. There has been one person arrested.’

The incident follows two terrorist attacks in a matter of weeks at Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge.

The Muslim Council of Britain has confirmed that worshippers leaving Finsbury Park Mosque were targeted when a van ran into them, adding: ‘Our prayers are with the victims.’

London Ambulance Service Deputy Director of Operations, Kevin Bate said: ‘We were called at 12.15am to reports of a road traffic collision at Seven Sisters Road.

‘We have sent a number of ambulance crews, advance paramedics and specialist responses teams to the scene. An advance trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance has also been dispatched by car.

‘We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene.

‘Our priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries and ensure those in the most need are treated first and taken to hospital.

‘More information will follow when we have it.’