Tension gripped Sokupkpan community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State after some irate residents reportedly lynched the community’s Chief Imam, Abdulahi Audu, over allegations linking him to the death of a resident, Ibrahim Gana.
According to multiple sources who spoke with SaharaReporters, the incident occurred after the deceased, Gana, allegedly accused the Chief Imam of being responsible for his deteriorating health before his death.
Gana was said to have frequently told neighbours that he often saw the Imam attacking him in his dreams and believed the cleric was the spiritual cause of his illness.
As Gana’s condition worsened, suspicion reportedly spread across the community, with some residents convinced that the Chief Imam had a hand in his suffering.
“When Gana eventually died, some angry youths concluded that the Imam was behind his death,” one source said.
The situation escalated on Wednesday when a mob, allegedly led by Mohammed Shaba, Mamudu Gana, and Ndakpotun Issa, attacked the Chief Imam in broad daylight. Despite efforts by community elders to intervene, the mob reportedly beat him to death, accusing him of witchcraft.
Police officers from the Tsaragi Division later arrived at the scene and arrested the three suspects believed to have played major roles in the lynching.
“The police have arrested three suspects so far — Mohammed Shaba, Mamudu Gana, and Ndakpotun Issa,” another source confirmed.
The body of the slain Chief Imam was buried on Wednesday evening according to Islamic rites, amid widespread tension and grief in the community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command has not released an official statement on the incident.