Imam killed, 12 others injured in Osogbo masqueraders, Muslims clash

An Imam has been reportedly killed while 12 other persons, including children, have sustained gunshot injuries during a clash between masqueraders and some Muslims in Osogbo, Osun State.

The masqueraders reportedly opened fire on the Muslims at their worship centre, Kamorudeen Central Mosque in the Oluode Aranyin area of Osogbo, around 2.30pm on Sunday while they were performing a special prayer for Nigeria.

The affected children mostly under 17 are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

One of them, 12-year-old Abduljeleel Ali, was shot in the chest and leg; Adebayo Awolesin, 15, was shot in the arm; Taofeeq Fatai, 17, and Maliq Abdukabir, 17, are all undergoing treatment in the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

Some property including a Toyota Camry car and mosque windows were destroyed.

Kamorudeen Islamic Society of Nigeria was said to have organised the special prayer for nation which was attended by members of the organisation across the state.

One of the victims, Isiaka Ajagbe, 37, said that the traditional worshippers led by one Kayode Esuleke, had attacked them first with stones before opening fire on them.

They were first throwing stones and later started firing guns at us. They destroyed the mosque.”

A member of the traditional group who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Muslims were the first to attack them in the mosque area.

“It was a reprisal. They were the ones that first attacked us during our procession on the street in front of the mosque,” he said.

The Imam of the mosque, Kazeem Yunus confirmed that the leader of the organisation in Iwo, Osun State, Moshood Salawudeen, was shot in the head and died before getting to the hospital.

 

“Some of our members, about 12 who sustained bullet wounds have been taken to Osun State General Hospital, Asubiaro; Osogbo Central Hospital and UNIOSUN central hospital while the corpse has been deposited at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital mortuary,” he added.