Police Commence Investigation As Worshiper Mobbed To Death At Osogbo Central Mosque

Osun State Police Command has commenced full investigation into the death of a worshipper who was allegedly mobbed to death by some persons at a central mosque in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

The Muslim faithful simply identified as Hameed Najeem was mobbed to death following a misunderstanding that ensued at the mosque.

The incident 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.

Najeem was said to have visited the mosque on Friday morning for the dawn prayer (Subui) and had participated in the prayer alongside other worshippers before an altercation reportedly broke out between him and the Imaam of the Mosque.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts revealed that Najeem, a father of two who dealt in car painting in the capital city, confronted the Imaam during sermon and attempted to attack him.

They said the Imaam quickly ran away from the mosque to avoid being hit by Najeem, whom some accounts said appeared tipsy.

Other worshippers who were surprised by Najeem’s confrontation with the Imaam were said to have mobbed him till he fell inside a gutter in front of the mosque.

A Muslim faithful who participated in the dawn prayer informed ours Correspondent under condition of anonymity, that the deceased suddenly removed the tripod stand which was being used by the preacher and attempted to slam it on him.

When our Correspondent visited the mosque, another eyewitness explained that Najeem, whom he said had immense physical size and stature, was struggling with his fellow worshippers but he was eventually overpowered.

“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.

“What I later heard was that he died before getting to the police station,” the eyewitness said.

Some aggrieved people who identified themselves as the family members of the deceased later stormed the mosque and accused the Imaam and some of the worshippers of killing Najeem.

Their visit in the area briefly triggered confusion and panic among residents and traders who had opened for businesses.

While some traders closed to the Mosque quickly shut their shops, others remained open as at the time of our correspondent’s visit on Friday afternoon.

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.

Eyewitnesses further revealed that some officers from the Criminal Investigation Department stormed the area to arrest the Imaam and two other faithful.

When contacted, the 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.”

However, a family member, who simply identified himself as Nurudeen, claimed that Najeem was mobbed to death in the mosque.

He demanded for justice for the deceased, noting that the attack was uncalled for.