The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that the Imam of Atiba community in Ijebuland, Alhaji Mushafau Bakare, was found dead in his car on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the cleric, said to be in his 60s, was declared missing on Tuesday while on his way to an outing within Ijebu-Ode.
Efforts by friends and families to locate the deceased Imam were unsuccessful, even as calls to his mobile rang out for hours.
Many people thought the Imam had been kidnapped by some unknown gunmen.
It was learnt that the case was later reported at the police station in Ijebu-Ode.
However, the Imam’s lifeless body was found in his car around Ikangba, Odogbolu Local Government Area of the State, on Wednesday.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State police spokesman, said the cleric was neither kidnapped nor killed as speculated by people.
“The man went out on Tuesday somewhere in Ijebu-Ode. But, when he was supposed to return home, the family did not see him, and they reported at the police station.
“Yesterday, police from the Obalende division, while on patrol, saw a Highlander jeep packed by the roadside, but they went on their own.
“While coming back, the car was still at the same spot. This made them check and they discovered that the man was dead in the car.
“There was no sign of violence in his body at all. We learnt that the man was hypertensive. It is possible that he had a crisis as a result of his health challenges and there was no one to help him at that time.
“He was taken to the hospital and an autopsy had been conducted. The result of the autopsy is still being awaited.
“But, the man was not kidnapped or killed by anybody. There was no sign of violence on his body at all. It appears his blood pressure rose while on the road and there was no one to help,” Oyeyemi said on Thursday.
The police spokesman added that the man had been buried on Thursday according to Islamic rites.
