NIGERIA: Masquerade Shoots Dead Muslim Cleric In Abeokuta

Residents of Ijaye in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital were on Monday thrown into confusion following the alleged killing of a Muslim cleric, Lateef Amusa, by a masquerader the previous day, Sunday.

Police command in the state said it arrested four suspects, including a masquerader, for the killing. The thirty-year-old Amusa was allegedly shot dead by a masquerader popularly known as, Leyin Aponle, during the celebrations of the annual Egungun Festival in Ijaye.

The victim, who was said to be riding on a motorcycle, allegedly defied the earlier warning from the masquerade to disembark from the motorbike shortly before the incident occurred. Thus, the alleged defiance of the masquerader’s order by the deceased resulted in the former shooting at the Islamic cleric who immediately fell and died on the spot.

The killing infuriated members of his sect, who on Monday morning invaded Ijaye, armed with kegs of petrol and other dangerous weapons and attacked the family house of the masquerader, which they set ablaze. The sect members were said to have also removed the masquerader’s costume, which they dragged to the street entrance before setting it ablaze. 

They also destroyed the masquerader’s other paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, had placed a ban on the continuation of the 17-day annual Egungun Festival.