The Osun Police Command will on Friday arraign the custodian of the Esuleke Masquerade, Chief Kayode Idowu Esuleke and some of his disciples at the State Magistrate Court for their involvement in the Sunday attack on Qamarudeen Central Mosque, which led to the death of Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen while 14 others sustained injuries.
Muslim News gathered that the suspects, who have been detained since Tuesday at the office of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) in Oke-Fia, have been reportedly charged for murder and unlawful possession of weapons.
In another development, the Police have also detained the Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Kazeem Yusuf, and three members of the society over their role during the attack, as the masquerade also alleged that two of their followers sustained injuries.
Our Correspondent gathered that they were reportedly invited for further interrogation at the Oke-Fia station of the IRT IGP around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, immediately after they returned from Iwo town where they had gone to bury Alhaji Salawudeen.
Apart from the Imam, the other three suspects being interrogated are: Salawudeen Jamiu, Alarape Sulaimon, and Saheed Akewi.
“As at this moment (Thursday), they haven’t returned from the Station,” human rights activist, Abdulganiy Sahid Olaide told Muslim News, “All the entreaties to the police to allow the three brothers to go home proved abortive.”
The State police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola confirmed the development to Muslim News, saying the leaders of the Islamic Organisation alongside the masquerade worshippers have been apprehended, adding that, “they were all involved in the issue”.
According to her, “The arrowheads from both sides (Islamic group and Masquerade group) were, as a matter of fact, apprehended because they were all involved in the issue. However, we are still investigating. Our next line of action will depend on the investigation.
“I can’t confirm the number of arrests made on both sides neither can I say if the masquerader will be arraigned tomorrow (Friday) at the magistrate court. What I can say is that there were records of injuries on both sides. That’s why they were both being apprehended,” she added.
