MURIC slams LASG over mosque collapse, victim’s treatment

The Muslim Rights Concern has raised concern over the plight of a 13-year-old, Naeemat Lasisi, whose legs were amputated following the collapse of Al-Mutmahinat Mosque in Mushin, Lagos.

The organisation called on the Lagos State Government to take responsibility for the incident, which occurred on May 28, 2024.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 8, 2024, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, revealed that a caterpillar belonging to the Lagos State Government accidentally brought down the mosque’s main pillar during prayers, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to 15 others, including Naeemat.

“Al-Mutmahinat Mosque located at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, came down forcefully on 28th May, 2024 when a caterpillar belonging to the Lagos State Government accidentally pulled down its main pillar while people were praying inside. Two people died in the accident while 15 others suffered various degrees of injuries.

Among the injured persons was 13 years old Naeemat Lasisi whose two legs have been amputated,” the statement read.

The statement criticized the silence of the Lagos State Government regarding the incident, despite MURIC’s continuous appeals for accountability.

It further condemned the actions of the General Hospital, Ikeja, where the victim is receiving treatment, accusing it of obstructing MURIC’s efforts to bring attention to the case.

“It will be recalled that MURIC has been calling on the state government to take full responsibility. However, LASG has remained silent to date on the issue. Meanwhile, the General Hospital, Ikeja, where the victim is being treated has demonstrated objection to MURIC’s agitation.

“An attempt made by the hospital to interview the victim and her two parents on Friday, 5th July 2024 led to the harassment of Mr. Abdul Fatah Abiodun Lawal, the Media Assistant to MURIC’s Executive Director, within the premises of the hospital. His phone and identity card were seized while he was detained by the hospital authorities for more than two hours.

“The parents stood by the MURIC official and insisted that he should be released because they were the ones who invited him to cover the interview. The hospital authorities deleted the video clip of the interview recorded by Mr. Lawal before releasing his telephone and identity card.

“The nurses in the ward immediately told the traumatized mother of the patient to take her daughter away from the hospital because she had been ‘discharged’. This threat was repeated this morning. This is a result of the parent’s refusal to support the manipulation of a so-called press interview.

“MURIC condemns this stick and carrot treatment of a girl-child whose legs have just been amputated. This is an eviction, not a discharge. The least we can call it is ‘premature discharge,” the statement added.

The organisation meanwhile called on the  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Health, and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that the victim receives proper medical attention and support.