Police have arrested a 63-year-old man for assaulting a pastor who was in custody for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed. The suspect has been identified as Sibamay Zakaria.
He was captured in a viral video assaulting the pastor while the pastor was in police custody over comments he made about Prophet Mohammed. Both men are currently in custody.
The pastor in question, Daniel Yaw Adjei Junior, on his part, was arrested by the police after another video circulating on social media in which he allegedly made derogatory and offensive comments about Prophet Mohammed.
Also arrested by the police in connection with that Prophet Mohammed comment is an Imam, identified as Masud Abdullah, who is said to have allegedly called for violence against people who spoke ill of Prophet Mohammed during a sermon at a mosque at Ntensere in the Atwima Nwabiagya North district of the Ashanti region.
Videos of all the incidents have since been shared on social media, following which the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, has condemned them.
Arrest of pastor
Meanwhile, following the arrest of the pastor and taken into police custody, Zakaria was seen in the video slapping him from behind.
Captured on video, it went viral, prompting the police to act following public condemnation of the assault of a suspect.
In a statement issued by the police following the arrest on Thursday, August 13, 2026, it said Zakaria is currently in custody assisting the investigation and will be put before the court, according to the police.
Police Professional Standards Bureau, meanwhile, says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and says all persons found culpable will be taken through the necessary disciplinary process.
The arrest followed a manhunt for Zakaria earlier Thursday morning, before issuing another statement announcing his arrest.
The imam and the pastor were arrested by the police following separate comments in relation to Prophet Mohammed, which the police consider inciteful.
Imam Masud Abdullah, 35, was arrested in connection with a video circulating on social media in which he allegedly called for violence against people who spoke ill of Prophet Mohammed.
Police say investigations into the two cases are ongoing and the suspects would be processed in line with the law on inciting the public against lawful order.
‘Arresting people over insults and confining them doesn’t help gov’t’ – Dafeamekpor
