A Muslim devoted merely recognized as Hameed Najeem has allegedly been mobbed to loss of life by some individuals at a Central Mosque in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.
The incident occurred within the early hours of Friday at Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque situated at B. A. Adigun Avenue, Ayedun Property, Ogo Oluwa Space, Osogbo.
Najeem was stated to have visited the mosque on Friday morning for the daybreak prayer (Fajr) and had participated within the prayer alongside different worshippers earlier than 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 automotive portray within the capital metropolis, confronted the Imaam throughout sermon and tried to assault him.
They stated the Imaam rapidly ran away from the mosque to keep away from being hit by Najeem, whom some accounts stated appeared tipsy.
Different worshippers who have been shocked by Najeem’s confrontation with the Imaam have been stated to have mobbed him until he fell inside a gutter in entrance of the mosque.
A Muslim devoted who participated within the daybreak prayer knowledgeable THE POINT, below situation of anonymity, that the deceased out of the blue eliminated the tripod stand which was being utilized by the preacher and tried to slam it on him.
When THE POINT visited the mosque, one other eyewitness defined that Najeem, whom he stated had immense bodily measurement and stature, was struggling along with his fellow worshippers however he was finally overpowered.
“The person got here to hope on the mosque and when the Imaam was giving his sermon, he out of the blue stood up and eliminated the microphone stand he was utilizing and tried to hit the Imaam. A few of us suspected that he was drunk earlier than coming to the mosque. We additionally sensed that the Imaam’s sermon might need touched him that he may not face up to it.
“After the Imaam ran away, another individuals on the mosque held him and he stored in battling them. They beat him and he additionally gave a few of them enamel chunk within the course of. Finally, fell inside a gutter on the entrance of the mosque earlier than a police van got here to choose him.
“Once I later heard was that he died earlier than attending to the police station,” the eyewitness stated.
THE POINT sighted some planks beside a gutter situated in entrance of the mosque with blood stains.
Some aggrieved individuals who recognized themselves because the relations of the deceased later stormed the mosque and accused the Imaam and among the worshippers of killing Najeem.
Their go to within the space briefly triggered confusion and panic amongst residents and merchants who had opened for companies.
Whereas some merchants closed to the Mosque rapidly shut their outlets, others remained open as on the time of our correspondent’s go to on Friday afternoon.
Owing to the incident, the Jummuah prayer couldn’t maintain.
Calm later returned to the realm after some groups of policemen have been deployed to take care of regulation and order.
Eyewitnesses additional revealed that some officers from the Legal Investigation Division stormed the realm to arrest the Imaam and two different devoted.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the sufferer was not attacked contained in the Mosque however “round it.”
In response to him, investigation has been launched to unravel the precise reason for the incident.
He stated, “The incident occurred this morning round after 6. No suspect has been arrested however info is on prime gear to get those who perpetrated this evil act arrested. The DPO and different Tactical Crew have been deployed to take care of regulation and order.
Requested in regards to the deceased’s stays, he acknowledged that, “The corpse has been deposited at Osun State Instructing Hospital.”
He insisted that the deceased was mobbed “across the Mosque and never really contained in the Mosque per say.”
Nonetheless, a member of the family, who merely recognized himself as Nurudeen, claimed that Najeem was mobbed to loss of life within the mosque.
He demanded for justice for the deceased, noting that the assault was uncalled for.