….End Oro procession on daylight – Ex-NLC Chairman

By Jeleel Olawale

There was palpable fear on Friday in Ile-Ife as Muslims protested against attack on some of their members in the mosque on Thursday evening by traditional worshippers.

Some Muslims were attacked on Thursday while praying Solat Asri at 4:00 pm in the mosque. The traditional worshippers allegedly attacked them and some sustained various degree of injuries in the process.

The Muslims blocked major roads in the town to express their displeasure over the attack on their members. Four people were said to have been attacked by the traditionalists in the mosque. The victims are Imam Abdul-Lateef Adesiyan, Muritadah Adeoye, AbdulBaqih Adesakin and another, identified as AbdulWahab.

Alhaji Sakariyau Adesiyan, the former chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Osun State Branch, said there is need to end activities of traditional worshippers in daylight. This must be the end of daylight Oro procession in Ile-Ife. This is not the first time they would be attacking Muslims and Christians on broad daylight.

Adesiyan who is the elder brother of the victim, Abdul-Lateef Adesiyan said what happened yesterday was barbaric and satanic because the person that was attacked inside mosque yesterday never did anything wrong to them.

“They attacked those who were praying inside mosque. It is painful. They have once attacked people. So, we are saying enough is enough. The Muslims are not happy with what they did.

“They brought Oro into the mosque when they have already attacked muslims in the mosque. We are not happy with this satanic incident in Ile Ife. We want justice to be served on the perpetrators. The protest will continue if those involved are not arrested,” he concluded.

He said one Chief Dada, the leader of the traditional worshippers was said to have instructed them to attack the victims in the mosque. Government should intervene and call them to order.

According to an eye witness, Mr. Bashir AbdulAzeez, “We were about to observe our Salatul Asr on Thursday evening around 4:30 pm, when scores of Oro worshipers attacked the Imam of the mosque and other Muslims doing their ablution.

“They attacked us and told us to move away. Before we could explain anything, they had started beating our Imam and Muslim sisters and brothers.

“They invaded the mosque and destroyed the Quran and other properties”. AbdulAzeez stated.

According to him, the Imam and five other Muslims have been receiving treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.

The Chief Imam of Ifeland, Sheikh AbdulSemiu AbdulHammid said the Palace had intervened in the matter, saying Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had called him to appeal to muslims to be patient as the matter would be resolved amicably, promising to be responsible for hospital bill of the victims as well as repairing the vandalised mosque.

He said the head of the traditional worshippers would be arrested and brought to justice. He said there is fundamental human right of freedom of religion in the land, urging muslims to be law abiding in their activities.

Mr Tajudeen Adesiyan who is the relative of the victim, said it happened when the muslims were about to observe Solat Asri prayer. The traditional worshippers were returning from the venue of their shrine when they forcefully entered the mosque and were asking for Imam and if not that he was in the mosque, they would have killed many people.

“It happened inside mosque and the mosque was destroyed. There was pool of blood of the injured persons. We are telling Nigerians that constitution allows everyone to practise his religion as he likes.

“There has never been a day when christians would ask muslims to stay indoor for religious event as being done by these traditionalists. The traditional worshippers are intolerant of other religions. We are going to end the act of indiscipline of the traditional worshippers in Ile-Ife. This act is barbaric and inhumane.

“We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come to our rescue to end this evil act in Ile-Ife. We are not going to cover the incident and they have been doing it in the past. We want justice and we have written letters to security agents to uncover this evil act.

“We want all muslims all over the world to support us in this fight because an injury to one is an injury to all. We are doing peaceful protest and police are involved and we want law to take its course on this issue,” he said.

The Police Spokesperson for Osun Command, SP Opalola Yemisi Osun said that the attack was confirmed and that the Olobatala people attacked Muslims at their worship place.

Opalola said that the investigation still continues.

NewsDirect reports that there was a pandemonium at Idi Omoh Mosque, Ilare, Ile Ife, on Thursday, when Oro worshipers attacked Muslims.