Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Osogbo, Nigeria — The Osun State Police Command has taken into custody the Chief Imam of Ummu Hanni Adigun Memorial Central Mosque in the Ogo‑Oluwa area of Osogbo and three other individuals in connection with the death of a worshipper following a volatile incident at the mosque on Friday morning. The arrested cleric and suspects are being held as police intensify investigations into circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.
According to police authorities, the detained worshipper, identified as Hameed Najeem, a car painter residing in Osogbo, was present for the early dawn (Fajr) prayer service when an altercation allegedly broke out shortly after the congregation concluded and the Imam was delivering his sermon. Eyewitnesses claim that Najeem grew agitated during the sermon and appeared to confront the Imam.
Accounts from people at the scene suggest that Najeem abruptly stood up during the sermon and attempted to strike the Imam with a microphone stand. The cleric reportedly fled the immediate area to avoid the attack, prompting other worshippers to intervene. In the ensuing commotion, Najeem was restrained by some members of the congregation and taken outside the mosque premises. The struggle allegedly continued as the situation escalated.
Reports vary on the precise location of the beating but confirm that Najeem sustained severe injuries during the confrontation. Witnesses said he was overwhelmed by a group of worshippers and subsequently suffered significant blows before he collapsed and fell into a gutter near the mosque. Some accounts assert that he was left bleeding in front of the mosque.
Police operatives from the nearby Ataoja Divisional Police Station arrived at the scene in response to the disturbance. Officers reportedly evacuated Najeem and transported him toward medical facilities, but he was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital. The body of the deceased was later deposited at the Osun State Teaching Hospital mortuary as part of ongoing investigative procedures.
Following the tragic outcome, family members and sympathisers of the deceased stormed the mosque during Friday’s Jumu’ah prayer in protest. They accused the Imam and some congregants of culpability and disrupted the service, demanding accountability and justice for their relative’s death. The emotional confrontation heightened tensions at the mosque entrance and drew a significant police presence to prevent further disorder.
Police confirmed that four people, including the Imam, were arrested in connection with the incident and that a full investigation has been launched to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the fatality. The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, reiterated that the investigation aims to clarify whether the deceased was attacked within the mosque’s confines or outside its immediate premises. Officers from tactical teams have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order as inquiries proceed.
The unfolding case has prompted calls from community members for a transparent investigation and justice for Najeem. Relatives have demanded that authorities thoroughly examine the actions of both the congregants involved and the broader circumstances that culminated in his death. Some in the community are urging law enforcement to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, while others are appealing for calm and peaceful resolution as the formal process continues.
The Osun incident reflects broader concerns about public safety, community relations, and religious site security in Nigeria, where religious institutions often serve as both spiritual and social centres. Violent incidences at places of worship remain rare but have significant repercussions when they occur, drawing public attention to the need for effective conflict de‑escalation mechanisms and respect for the rule of law within communal spaces.
As the investigation unfolds, law enforcement officials are expected to provide updates on the status of the suspects’ detention and any potential charges that may be filed. The outcome of the police probe will be closely watched, with civil society organisations and local leaders emphasising the importance of due process and accountability in addressing the tragedy.
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