From: LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin
Two people have been reportedly killed as pandemonium engulfed the acient town of Omupo in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, over the purported removal of the Chief Imam of the town by the traditional ruler of the area.
Daily Sun checks revealed that the crisis erupted when a newly installed Chief Imam of the town, who was said to be living in Lagos State, preached against the Federal Government at an event held last week over the current economic hardship. The Imam was said to have come down hard on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government’s economic policies, which he said has led to hunger and starvation in the country.
It was gathered that the sermon did not go down well with people and dignitaries present, who included the Olomu of Omupo, Oba Yaqub Buhari and one of the serving commissioners in the state, thus allegedly resulting to the removal of the Islamic cleric and subsequent replacement with another.
While the traditional ruler declined comment on the development when contacted, it was gathered from residents of the town that the headless bodies of two people were found after a thorough search on a bush path in the town three days after they had been reported missing by their relations.
Speaking with Daily Sun, one of the residents of the town, Mallam Abdulmalik Atunbi, said there was actually a crisis over the removal of the Chief Imam, but quickly added that the matter had been resolved and the atmosphere was calm in the area.
Mallam Atunbi, who said the reported killing of two people had no link with the crisis over the removal of the Chief Imam, said activities of ritualists had been on the increase in recent time in many parts of the country.
Another resident of the town, Mrs. Abigael Alabi, said that two young children, aged between 10 and 12 years, were declared missing by their parents and that their headless bodies were later discovered along a bush path some days after a thorough search by relations.
Unconfirmed reports had it that some members of the local vigilance team in the area were arrested in connection with the incident.
When contacted, the police public relations officer of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the command was yet to get the report, adding that there was no available report of any crisis in area at his disposal.