Worshipper Dies After Altercation at Osogbo Central Mosque

A worshipper named Najeem was reportedly beaten to death during an altercation at a central mosque in Osogbo, Osun State.

The event took place on Friday, January 30, 2026, shortly after the dawn (Fajr) prayer at the Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, situated on B.A. Adigun Street in the Ayedun Estate of Ogo Oluwa Area, according to a report by The Guardian.

Eyewitnesses recounted that Najeem, a car painter and father of two, had participated in the prayers when a confrontation erupted between him and the Imam during the sermon.

Reports indicate that the deceased abruptly stood up, detached the microphone tripod, and made an attempt to assault the Imam.

To avoid confrontation, the Imam reportedly fled from the mosque. Some worshippers attempted to intervene and restrain Najeem, but the situation swiftly escalated into a violent struggle that extended outside the mosque compound.

Witnesses claimed that Najeem was struck during the altercation and subsequently fell into a gutter near the mosque.

A worshipper who wished to remain anonymous suggested that Najeem seemed aggressive and potentially under the influence of alcohol.

“He abruptly stood up, pulled down the microphone stand, and tried to hit the Imam. When the Imam ran away, several individuals restrained him. There was a scuffle, and he was beaten. He also bit some of the people before he fell into the gutter,” the eyewitness stated.

Another observer described Najeem as physically formidable, noting that it took multiple people to subdue him.

Family members of the deceased later arrived at the mosque, accusing some of the worshippers of causing Najeem’s death.

Their presence led to increased tension in the vicinity, causing panic among local residents and traders, with some hastily closing their shops.

Due to the incident, Jummah prayers were cancelled, and police forces were dispatched to the area to restore order and prevent any escalation.

Local residents reported that officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the site and took the Imam and two other worshippers into custody, although this report has not been independently verified.

Abiodun Ojelabi, spokesperson for the State Police Command, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the victim did not die inside the mosque but rather in the vicinity. "The incident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. There have been no arrests yet, but investigations are in progress to identify those involved," Ojelabi stated.

He added that the body of the deceased has been taken to the Osun State Teaching Hospital mortuary, with the Divisional Police Officer and tactical units deployed to ensure public safety.

Authorities announced that investigations continue to ascertain the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.