The imam of a mosque on Nuru Oniwo Street, Aguda , Surulere , Lagos State, Yahaya Quadri , has remained missing three weeks after he left home .
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim had left home to pray at a house - warming in Owode Onirin, Ikorodu , at about 8 am on Monday , October 16, 2017 .
He was said to have been invited to the event by a friend , who told him not to come along with anybody .
Our correspondent gathered that the family of the 40 - year -old Islamic cleric became apprehensive around 4 pm on that day when he did not return home .
When one of his lines was contacted , he reportedly spoke in distress for a few seconds before the call was terminated . The lines were said to have been unreachable afterwards.
His mother , Afusat Quadri , said the unknown friend had contacted Yahaya on the telephone on Sunday when he was leading a group of women in a prayer at Oluwakemi Mosque in Aguda.
She said he was supposed to leave for Owode Onirin after the prayer ended around 4 pm , but the friend told him the event had been postponed to the following day.
She said , “ He announced at the prayer on Sunday that he was invited to pray in a house -warming in Owode Onirin. On Monday morning , while his children , who live with me , were preparing for school, he came in and asked them to give him a small bag .
“ I asked him what the bag was meant for and he said he was going for the house - warming prayer and wanted to keep his Quran there. I asked why would such an event hold on Monday and he said that was how the organiser wanted it .
“ I told him to go with one of his brothers . He said the friend that invited him had told him to come alone.
“ Around 4 pm , when his children returned from school , I sent them to him to collect money for their lunch . They said he had not come back . I was surprised because he told me he would not stay long at the event .
“ I called his line and he picked it . I asked if he was in his apartment in Ijesha , Surulere ; he exclaimed , saying , ‘ I have not come o !” There was much noise where he was . I wanted to ask him what happened , but the line disengaged.
“ We have not been able to reach him since then. He didn’ t tell us the name of the friend and we don’ t know any of his friends in Owode Onirin . ”
Yahaya’ s fiancée , Karimat Kasali, said she was also amazed that the house -warming was scheduled for a Monday , adding that she advised him to go with one of his brothers , but he refused .
She said , “ He told me he was going to Owode Onirin on Monday morning while I was preparing for the office . Around 8 . 30am, I called him and he said he was at Palmgroove waiting to board a bus en route to Ikorodu.
At about 9 am, he said he was already at the event and he promised to call me back after the prayer. Around 12pm , I called his line, but it was not reachable . ”
Yahaya’ s younger brother, Muritala Quadri , said the case was reported at the Special Anti - Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja , Owode Onirin and Ijesha police divisions and at the Anti - Kidnapping and Anti -Cultism Unit in Surulere .
“ The SARS men said they had tracked his line, but could not locate him . A policeman directed us to the Anti -Kidnapping and Anti - Cultism Unit , which is presently handling the case .
Since his lines are switched off , it is likely he was abducted, ” he added .
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Olarinde Famous - Cole , promised to get back to our correspondent with comments on the case .
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