Imam Disappears After being Invited By a friend for House Warming
It was learnt that the Imam had left home to pray at a house-warming in Owode Onirin,
Ikorodu, on Monday, October 16, 2017 at about 8am.
He was said to have been invited to the event by a friend, who told him not to come along with anybody.
It was gathered that the
family of the 40-year-old Islamic cleric became apprehensive around 4pm
on that day when he did not return home.
When one of his phone numbers was dailed, he
was said to have reportedly spoke in distress for a few seconds before the call was disconnected. The lines were said to have been unreachable afterwards.
His mother, Afusat Quadri, said the
unknown friend had contacted Yahaya on the telephone on Sunday when he
was leading a group of women in a prayer at Oluwakemi Mosque in Aguda.
She said, “He announced at the prayer on
Sunday that he was invited to pray in a house-warming in Owode Onirin.
On Monday morning, while his children, who live with me, were preparing
for school, he came in and asked them to give him a small bag.
“I asked him what the bag was meant for
and he said he was going for the house-warming prayer and wanted to keep
his Quran there. I asked why would such an event hold on Monday and he
said that was how the organiser wanted it.
“I told him to go with one of his brothers. He said the friend that invited him had told him to come alone.
“Around 4pm, when his children returned
from school, I sent them to him to collect money for their lunch. They
said he had not come back. I was surprised because he told me he would
not stay long at the event.
“I called his line and he picked it. I
asked if he was in his apartment in Ijesha, Surulere; he exclaimed,
saying, ‘I have not come o!” There was much noise where he was. I wanted
to ask him what happened, but the line disengaged.
“We have not been able to reach him
since then. He didn’t tell us the name of the friend and we don’t know
any of his friends in Owode Onirin.”
The wife, Karimat Kasali, said
she was also amazed that the house-warming was scheduled for a Monday,
adding that she advised him to go with one of his brothers, but he
refused.
She said, “He told me he was going to
Owode Onirin on Monday morning while I was preparing for the office.
Around 8.30am, I called him and he said he was at Palmgroove waiting to
board a bus en route to Ikorodu. At about 9am, he said he was already at
the event and he promised to call me back after the prayer. Around
12pm, I called his line, but it was not reachable.”
The younger brother of the Imam, Muritala
Quadri, said the case was reported at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of
the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Owode Onirin and Ijesha police
divisions and at the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Unit in Surulere.
“The SARS men said they had tracked his
line, but could not locate him. A policeman directed us to the
Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Unit, which is presently handling the
case. Since his lines are switched off, it is likely he was abducted,”
he added.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, promised to get back to our
correspondent with comments on the case.
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