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 prayers.
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 further said the deceased was immediately seized by other worshippers and dragged outside the mosque, where they beat him up.
He also said the matter was later reported at Ataoja Police Division.
A member of the congregation, who pleaded for anonymity to avoid arrest, told The PUNCH during a visit to the mosque on Friday evening, that Hammed was displeased with the sermon of the Imam, which he felt was targeted at him and made 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 freightened Imam ran and some of the people that came around to worship siezed 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 also learnt that Hammed’s health condition deteriorated while in the 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, it was learnt, later stormed the mosque while Jumaat service was going on and threatened to attack the worshippers.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for Osun Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, explained that four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Ojelabi, who said probe has commenced on the issue, said the deceased was attacked outside the mosque.
“The incident happened this morning around after 6am. 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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