The lifeless body of the Chief Imam of Atiba Community, Sheikh Mushafau Bakare reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday was found dead on Thursday in his newly acquired Toyota Highlander vehicle.
Sheikh Bakare remains was said to have been found in his vehicle around Ikangba area in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state by police officers attached to Obalende Divisional headquarters, Ijebu Ode.
It was learnt that the children and relatives of the cleric as well as some Muslim faithfuls have mounted search party for him since he was declared missing on Wednesday only for the police to discover his body in his car early Thursday morning.
Mushafau’s phone was said to have continued ringing when being searched for but was never picked. He is said to be in his 60s.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi has said that the Muslim cleric was not kidnapped by any gunmen neither was there any sign of violence on his corpse
Oyeyemi explained: “There is nothing like gunmen or kidnapping in this case. What happened was that the Imam left home for an outing, and when he didn’t return on time his relations who had been calling his number which was not picked reported at the station.
“In the evening of Wednesday, a police patrol team saw an highlander vehicle parked along the road on their way going, when the same vehicle was seen on the same spot when they were coming back, they thought it was an abandoned stolen vehicle.
“But when they opened the car, the lifeless body of the Imam was discovered there inside the car. No single mark of violence on the body.
“The information at our disposal was that the deceased was hypertensive suggesting that he might have had crisis on the way and nobody to render help. Where the issue of gunmen and kidnapping come in is what I don’t understand.”
The cleric is said to have been laid to rest on Thursday at the community.
