A prominent Islamic cleric and Chief Imam of Atiba community in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Sheikh Mushafau Bakare, who was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen, has been found dead.
Relatives and close associates of the cleric had earlier raised an alarm that Bakare was abducted on Wednesday night.
However, his lifeless body was found inside his newly acquired Toyota Highlander in the early hours of Thursday around the Ikangba area in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
It was learnt that his lifeless body was reportedly discovered by police officers attached to Obalende Divisional Police Office, Ijebu Ode.
A source said his mobile lines kept on ringing for hours while search operations were ongoing.
Our correspondent gathered that the late Islamic cleric was declared missing by his relatives on Wednesday when he did not return home after an outing.
Our Correspondent further gathered that his lifeless body was discovered inside his newly acquired Toyota highlander in the early hours of Thursday around Ikangba area in Odogbolu local government area of the state.
The corpse of the cleric was reportedly discovered by the police officers attached to Obalende divisional police headquarters, Ijebu Ode.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, dismissed the speculations, insisting that the cleric was neither abducted nor killed by gunmen.
Oyeyemi confirmed that the cleric was dead and his lifeless body was found in his car.
But, he said there was “no mark of violence on the cleric’s body and the body was found in his vehicle”.
He said: “There is nothing like gunmen or kidnapping in this case. The Imam left home for an outing and when he did not return on time, his relatives who had been calling his phone which was not picked reported to the police.
“Policemen on patrol around Obalende in Ijebu-Ode sighted the cleric’s vehicle parked by the roadside and discovered his lifeless body with his phone inside the vehicle.
“The information we have at our disposal is that the man was hypertensive, it is possible that the man had a crisis and there was nobody to render assistance to him at that particular time.
“There was no mark of violence on his body and the body was found in the vehicle.”
