Council boss fumigates, seals Agege mosque where worshippers attacked Lagos officials

The Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State has sealed a mosque in the area for violating the state government’s order on a religious gathering in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The council yesterday sealed up the mosque after a fumigation exercise led by its chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, was conducted at the venue.

Speaking at the scene, Egunjobi said the shutdown became necessary to avert a recurrence and serve as deterrent to other erring faith groups or worshippers. “We cannot continue to condone acts capable of spreading this dreadful disease.

“Even Saudi Arabia placed restrictions on the number of people who must worship in the two holy mosques, Haram and Nabawi and banned congregational prayers in all other mosques across the country. Honestly speaking, we cannot be more Roman than the Romans. We have had an engagement with the leadership of the mosque, including the Sarkin Hausawa, Musa Muhammed, and our resolution is that it should be shut down till further notice,” the council chief said.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had penultimate week banned gathering of more than 20 persons in one of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as outlawing congregational worshipping. However, worshippers at Agege Central Mosque better known as Mosalasi Alhaja, located at Balogun Street, Agege, flouted the order on Tuesday night during the Evening Prayer (Isha) and worshipped in hundreds.

Attempts by officials of the Lagos COVID-19 Taskforce and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who arrived at the scene to enforce compliance following a tip-off, was said to have been viciously rebuffed.

“A drama ensued when some of the Muslim youths from the north sighted the team and became aggressive, and started to attack the team. Others in the mosque, numbering about 300 rushed out chanting Allahu Akbar and joined them in the attack by throwing stones at the vehicles.

“All entreaties to talk to the Imam failed as the youth were persistent. But the police escort rose to the occasion by curbing further attacks and ensuring the safety of the team”, a statement from the General Manager, LASEPA and leader of the task force, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, stated.