Crime
Osogbo Imam Arraigned Over Worshipper’s Death
Osogbo Imam Abdulgafar Sakariyah and four others arraigned over worshipper Ahmed Najeem’s death, renewing calls to curb mob violence
Imam Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, of the Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, Osogbo, and four others were arraigned on murder charges following the death of worshipper Ahmed Najeem during early morning prayers on January 30.
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The Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court remanded Sakariyah, along with Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Folorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29, at Ilesa Correctional Centre until February 24, pending legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
The incident occurred when Najeem allegedly attempted to attack the Imam with a microphone stand during prayers.
Witnesses said members of the congregation restrained him, dragging him outside the mosque, where he was beaten with planks and blows.
Despite surviving the initial assault, Najeem fell into a drainage and later died en route to the hospital.
A member of the congregation said, “Nearly all those involved in the assault have fled. Those facing charges did not participate but were present at the scene. The real offenders may escape punishment.”
The tragic event has reignited public debate over mob action in Osun State.
Civil society leaders and security officials have condemned the killing, urging law enforcement to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Amitolu Shittu, pioneer Director-General of Osun Amotekun Corps, noted the limitations of police investigations due to the absence of surveillance cameras, calling for their installation across the state.
“Jungle justice is an aberration and must be condemned outright. Whoever is involved must be brought to book and face the law,” he said.
Wole Oladapo, convener of Nigerians for Good Governance, also advocated for cameras, highlighting their deterrent effect on criminal activity.
“With cameras everywhere, no criminal will escape justice,” he said.
Family members of the deceased, including a relative identified as Kazeem, have demanded justice, rejecting claims that Najeem was medically unsound.
Colleagues of the deceased described the assault as cruel and called for the maximum penalty for those found responsible.
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that the incident took place outside the mosque premises shortly after 6 a.m., and that investigations are ongoing to identify all responsible parties.
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The arraignment of the Imam and four others has once again focused attention on mob violence in the state, amid growing calls for public surveillance measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has read a riot act to economic saboteurs and vandals across the country, stating unequivocally that there is no hiding place for vandals who prey on the nation’s commonwealth and national critical assets. While addressing the media in his Abuja office, the NSCDC boss disclosed that; his leadership will smoke them out of their hiding spots and make them face the full wrath of the law.
He further disclosed that; the NSCDC has secured a sweeping court order and have sealed all operational branches of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd nationwide for railway materials vandalism and other grave infractions. Issuing a strict directive to the Commandant in charge of the Special Intelligence Squad, Appollos Dandaura, the CG ensured that operatives maintain absolute diligence and professionalism throughout this high-impact operation, declaring that every single suspect found culpable in this bleeding of the nation’s commonwealth will face the full wrath of the law.
This landmark action follows the recent exposure of a highly sophisticated syndicate allegedly responsible for the systematic vandalism and theft of Nigeria’s critical public infrastructure, including railway lines, power transmission equipment and telecommunications assets, with authorities now linking the stolen materials to an industrial-scale recycling operation run by the steel companies and proceeds suspected of financing terrorist activities.
Armed with valid search warrants and the newly secured court order, operatives from the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad stormed the Birnin Yero facility in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they recovered large quantities of railway sleepers, steel tracks and other vandalized infrastructure components, all of which have been officially secured and transferred to the Nigerian Railway Corporation to be preserved as vital exhibits for the impending prosecution.
According to confessions extracted from arrested staff, the syndicate operated a well-coordinated logistics network, routinely transporting vandalized national infrastructure from various attack sites to the company’s headquarters in Aba, Abia State, as well as to other branches, where the stolen steel was melted down in industrial furnaces and recycled into commercial products including nails, roofing sheets, and reinforcement bars sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
Suspects linked to the syndicate are now facing a raft of severe criminal allegations, including conspiracy to commit felony and theft, intentional endangering of the safety of persons traveling by railway, obstruction, injury, and damage to railway infrastructure, failure to give notice or information to a public officer, dishonestly receiving and assisting in the concealment of stolen property, and giving support and financing to terrorist groups for the commission of acts of terrorism.
Consequent upon the discoveries in Kaduna and further intelligence gathering, the closure and investigation orders have been extended to cover the headquarters of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd in Ahala Ukwa Village, Umuahala Community, Obuzor Ukwu, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, as well as the northern hub in Tasha Rawayyah, Gusau, Zamfara State, along with all other branches and subsidiaries nationwide.
The NSCDC has formally summoned the Chinese nationals involved in the management of the industrial complex; however, they are yet to appear before investigators, raising potential diplomatic and legal complexities, though the CG reaffirmed that the NSCDC remains fiercely committed to reducing infrastructure vandalism to the absolute minimum.
The Corps expressed profound gratitude to the judiciary for the swift granting of these legal instruments, which prevented further interference with crucial evidence, and also commended the press for their vital partnership in shining a bright light on these economic crimes, ensuring transparency and public accountability. Members of the public are strongly urged to continue collaborating with the Corps by sharing credible, timely information to help bring an end to infrastructure theft across Nigeria.
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