Hoodlums attack Agbado-Ishaga mosque, demand Imam’s grandson over alleged anti-Islam post
A mosque in Agbado-Ishaga, Lagos, was thrown into chaos after a group of hoodlums invaded the premises shortly after Friday Jumu’ah prayers, vandalising property and demanding that a man identified as “Khalid” be handed over to them.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived when most worshippers had already left the mosque, reducing the number of people who could resist the invasion.
As they forced their way into the mosque, they repeatedly shouted that “Khalid” must be produced for attacking Islam.
The mob damaged several items inside the mosque. Glass windows were smashed, bulletin boards ripped from the walls, and the mosque’s megaphones and other public address equipment were destroyed.
Other property within the worship centre was also vandalised before the attackers fled.
Our correspondent gathered that Khalid is the grandson of the mosque’s Chief Imam. The elderly cleric was not spared during the attack. According to sources familiar with the incident, the hoodlums accused him of protecting his grandson and demanded to know his whereabouts. In the confusion that followed, the Chief Imam was pushed to the ground and sustained injuries.
Family members said the attack came after an intense backlash over a social media post allegedly made by Khalid in September 2024. The post, which reportedly announced his conversion from Islam and expressed views critical of the religion, quickly spread across several social media platforms and drew angry reactions from many users.
According to the family, the online outrage soon escalated into threats. Unknown individuals allegedly vowed to identify Khalid and locate members of his family. Relatives initially suspected that the attack on the Chief Imam might have been connected to his previous involvement in local politics. However, that belief changed after reports emerged that the attackers repeatedly demanded that Khalid be produced during the incident.
Residents described the attack as deeply disturbing, noting that a place of worship and an elderly religious leader became the target of violence over a dispute that originated online.
The incident has renewed concerns about the growing trend of social media controversies spilling into real-life violence. Community leaders have appealed for calm while urging law enforcement authorities to investigate the attack, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice.
Police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or announce any arrests as
of the time this report was filed.
