At the Central Mosque in Auchi, in Edo State, worshippers were thrown into panic on Friday after a sudden invasion of honey bees disrupted the weekly Jumaat prayers.
The incident, which occurred just moments before the commencement of the mid-day congregational prayers, forced hundreds of Muslim faithful to scamper for safety as the swarm aggressively descended on the prayer ground.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with worshippers abandoning their prayer mats and dashing out of the mosque premises to escape being stung.
Despite efforts by mosque officials and community members to disperse the swarm and restore calm, the bees remained aggressive, making it impossible for prayers to continue.
While no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, a few worshippers reportedly sustained minor stings as they tried to escape the invasion.
Confirming the incident, the Chief Imam of Auchi, Alhaji Abdulmalik Imran, expressed gratitude to God that no lives were lost. He described the occurrence as “unprecedented in recent history of the mosque,” assuring that necessary traditional and environmental steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence.
The incident has since sparked conversations within the community, with some attributing it to natural causes while others expressed superstitious concerns.
Peace was restored at the mosque later in the evening after the bees dispersed. However, mosque management said it would consult environmental specialists to inspect the premises and possibly fumigate the area ahead of next week’s Jumaat service.
