Several youth protesting the removal of the chief imam of the Jimeta Juma’at Mosque, in Yola, Adamawa State, Sufiyanu Adamu, on Friday set fire to the office of the District Head of Jimeta, Ibrahim Baba-Paris.
The angry youth insisted that they would not accept the removal of the imam by the district head as it was based on the imam’s criticism of the government’s poor handling of the current security situation in the state.
The imam’s criticism came during a special prayer session for peace last week.
Trouble started after worshippers trooped to the mosque on Friday only to learn of the imam’s suspension by the district head.
Some youths then headed to the district head’s office and set it ablaze. They were about storming his home but were prevented by security agents and some opinion leaders who pleaded with them.
“We will no longer condone injustice by leaders who think we must not express ourselves in the face of injustice,” one of the protesters, Bello Sufi said. “Why should the district head feel offended because the imam spoke the mind of the majority as far as this insecurity is concerned.”
Several efforts to get the district head to react to the development was not successful as he had reportedly been rushed to an unknown destination for his safety by security agents.
When contacted, the Adamawa state Police Command spokesperson, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the incident but said he was yet to get details on the incident.
Mr. Abubakar, however, said the situation was now under control.