OSUN POLICE ARREST IMAM, THREE OTHERS OVER WORSHIPPER’S DEATH

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By: Sefiu Ajape

Osun State Police Command on Friday said it has arrested four people, including an Imam, over the death of a worshipper, Najeem Hammed.

Sources said Hammed was mobbed during the early morning prayers, after a failed attack on the Imam of Ummu Hanni Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, Ogo-Oluwa area, during the morning service.

A resident, who was close to the scene but spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Hammed had attempted to hit the Imam with a microphone stand but missed the target.

He added that the deceased was immediately seized by other worshippers and dragged outside the mosque, where they beat him up.

The matter was later reported at Ataoja Police Division.

A member of the congregation, who also pleaded for anonymity to avoid arrest, told our correspondent on Friday evening that Hammed was displeased with the sermon of the Imam, which he felt was targeted at him, and made an attempt to hit the cleric with a microphone stand.

“The Imam was still delivering his sermon when Hammed got up and approached him. He attempted to hit the man, but he missed the target. The frightened Imam ran and some of the people that came around to worship seized Hammed and dragged him outside the mosque. They beat him up.

“They later reported the incident at a nearby police station. Operatives came around and evacuated him. He was injured. He sustained open injury,” he said.

It was further learnt that Hammed’s health condition deteriorated while in custody, and he was rushed to a hospital where he was eventually confirmed dead.

Displeased by the action of the congregation, family members and friends of the deceased later stormed the mosque during Jumaat service and threatened to attack the worshippers.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for Osun Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said four people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Ojelabi, who said a probe has commenced, explained that the deceased was attacked outside the mosque.

“The incident happened this morning around after 6 a.m. Four suspects have been arrested. The DPO and other Tactical Team have been deployed to maintain law and order. The corpse has been deposited at Osun State Teaching Hospital,” Ojelabi said.

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