Chief Imam Accused Of Witchcraft Beaten To Death
The Chief Imam of Sokupkpan community, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mallam Abdullahi Audu, was lynched by a violent mob over allegations that he was spiritually responsible for the death of a resident, Ibrahim Gana.
Witnesses said the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, threw the entire community into confusion and panic.
The mob action was reportedly triggered by suspicions that the cleric had used spiritual means to harm the deceased.
Gana, according to report before his death, had been battling an undisclosed illness and repeatedly claimed that the Chief Imam was tormenting him in his dreams.
He allegedly told friends and family that the cleric was the spiritual cause of his worsening condition.
“As his health got worse, people started believing his claims. When he eventually died, some angry youths concluded that the Imam was responsible,” a community source said.
On Wednesday, tension boiled over as the deceased brothers, Mohammed Shaba, Mamudu Gana, and Ndakpotun Issa, mobilized others to confront the Chief Imam.
Despite efforts by a few elders to calm the situation, the mob allegedly attacked the cleric, beating him to death in the process.
“They descended on the Imam, accusing him of killing Gana through witchcraft. They refused to listen to anyone who tried to stop them,” another source said.
Meanwhile, the state Police Command said it has arrested four suspects over the incident.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, in Ilorin on Thursday, disclosed that “On November 4, 2025, at about 9:30 p.m., one Ibrahim Gana ‘M’ aged 25 years, a resident of Sokunkpan Village in Tsaragi, who had been ill and on admission at a hospital, sadly passed away.
“Following his death, his brothers Mohammed Shaba and Mahmud Gana accused the Chief Imam of the village Alh Abdullahi Audu, of being responsible for their brother’s demise.
“In an act of mob violence, Muhammad Shaaba and Mahmud Gana allegedly mobilised several other individuals and attacked the Chief Imam with offensive weapons, leading to his death,” the spokesperson added.
She said police operatives swiftly commenced an investigation into the incident, and four suspects were arrested with efforts ongoing to arrest other individuals connected to the crime.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
