By John Audu.
A crisis erupted in the Hallelujah community in Egbedore local government area of Osun State on Friday, as enraged residents beat the newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya while attempting to conduct jumat service in the area.
According to a report by Vanguard, the Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten by angry youths who claimed he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.
The monarch had recently turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering people at his palace to observe jumat prayer, youths from Ido-Osun reportedly invaded the palace and disrupted the exercise.
Aggrieved youths shouted at the monarch, questioning his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch. The mob beat the monarch and vandalized the palace before security operatives intervened in the situation.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that security operatives had to rescue the monarch from the scene. The monarch, known as Ajeniju of Hallelujah, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety. He was later transferred to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo for treatment.
Confirming the incident, Hon. Samuel Ojo, Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, stated that he would refrain from commenting on the incident until the outcome of an investigation on the matter.
