Worshipper Mobbed At Osogbo Mosque Over Attempt To Attack Imam
There was panic around the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo on Friday as a Muslim faithful simply identified as Hameed Najeem was allegedly mobbed to death by some persons at a Mosque in the area.
The incident, according to report, happened in the early hours of Friday at Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque located at B. A. Adigun Street, Ayedun Estate, Ogo Oluwa Area, Osogbo.
Sources said Najeem had participated in the dawn prayer (Fajr) alongside other worshippers before an altercation reportedly broke out between him and the Imam of the Mosque.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts revealed that Najeem allegedly confronted the Imam during sermon and attempted to attack him.
However, the Imam was said to have run away from the mosque to avoid being hit by Najeem.
Other worshippers who were surprised by Najeem’s confrontation with the Imam were said to have mobbed him till he fell into a gutter in front of the mosque.
Speaking with newsmen, a Muslim faithful who participated in the dawn prayer, said that the deceased suddenly removed the tripod stand which was being used by the preacher and attempted to slam it on him.
“The man came to pray at the mosque and when the Imaam was giving his sermon, he suddenly stood up and removed the microphone stand he was using and attempted to hit the Imaam. Some of us suspected that he was drunk before coming to the mosque. We also sensed that the Imaam’s sermon might have touched him that he could no longer withstand it.
“After the Imaam ran away, some other people at the mosque held him and he kept in struggling with them. They beat him and he also gave some of them teeth bite in the process. Eventually, fell inside a gutter at the front of the mosque before a police van came to pick him.
“When I later heard was that he died before getting to the police station,” an eyewitness who preferred anonymity said.
Owing to the incident, the Jummuah prayer couldn’t hold. Calm later returned to the area after some teams of policemen were deployed to maintain law and order.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the victim was not attacked inside the Mosque but “around it.”
According to him, investigation has been launched to unravel the actual cause of the incident.
He said, “The incident happened this morning around after 6. No suspect has been arrested but information is on top gear to get those that perpetrated this evil act arrested. The DPO and other Tactical Team have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Asked about the deceased’s remains, he stated that, “The corpse has been deposited at Osun State Teaching Hospital.”
He insisted that the deceased was mobbed “around the Mosque and not actually inside the Mosque per say.”
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.
