SALAH MESSAGE: HARDSHIP: SEEK FORGIVENESS, CHANGE, BE PATIENT – MURIC

 

11^th April, 2024

SALAH MESSAGE

HARDSHIP: SEEK FORGIVENESS, CHANGE, BE PATIENT – MURIC

 

Nigerians have been advised to seek forgiveness from their Creator, Allah, to change their ways, eschew greed and appreciate what Allah has done for them. Furthermore, they are to see the current economic hardship as a trial from Allah for which they need patience in order to overcome it and receive divine blessings.

 

The advice was contained in a Salah message circulated to journalists on Thursday, 11th April, 2024, by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

The message reads:

 

"We congratulate the Nigerian Ummah (Muslim Community) on the successful completion of the 2024 (1445AH) Ramadan season. In particular, we felicitate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima as well as the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. 

 

"It is our wish to ponder over the present economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians. In the first place, we submit that Nigeria has been blessed in all ramifications including a wonderful and extended landscape, rich and fertile land, unlimited mineral resources as well as human capital wealth. Qur'an 20:118-119 and 16:112 alluded to these blessings. 

 

"But in spite of Allah's warning that Shaytan (Satan) is man's open enemy and that we should not allow him to deceive us into forgetting Allah's blessings (20:117), we hobnobbed with Shaytan, became greedy and committed evil on both land and sea (30:41) and failed to appreciate Allah (fakafarat bi ani'umillahi) and as a result of our ingratitude, Allah made us taste the pangs of hunger and fear (16:112).

 

"We therefore urge Nigerians to see the current hardship as a direct impact of our bad past and a trial (2:155 and 29:2) which we should patiently contend with and seek the forgiveness of Allah in order to overcome the hardship and receive divine blessings. According to the Glorious Qur'an, those who face the trial with forbearance will receive the mercy and blessings of Allah (2:157). 

 

"Consequently, MURIC calls on Nigerians to desist from trading blames, to cultivate a positive attitude towards their country, to seek forgiveness from their Supreme Creator, turn a new leaf and face the future with patience and hardwork."

 

#SeekForgiveness

#Patience

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

FURORE OVER FG’S N90B HAJJ SUBSIDY UNNECESSARY – MURIC

 

5^th April, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

FURORE OVER FG’S N90B HAJJ SUBSIDY UNNECESSARY – MURIC  

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved a N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 hajj operation. However, the move has been heavily criticized by some individuals and groups. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights advocacy organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the issue.

 

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, 5^th April, 2024, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Founder and Executive Director of the group, said criticism of the hajj subsidy was spiced with bad blood, garnished with toxic faith and served with tramadolised religiousity.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved a N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 hajj operation. However, the move has been heavily criticized by some individuals and groups. Some of the critics accused the president of giving undue favour to Muslim pilgrims because he is also a Muslim.

 

“Some even went as far as describing what Tinubu did as sponsoring Muslims on hajj. We can take it from there. There is a world of difference between sponsoring hajj and subsidizing it. To sponsor hajj, government has to pay the whole bill including the return ticket, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, feeding, etc, whereas it is only a part of the bill that government will pay in case of subsidy.

 

“We need to clarify our position on subsidising and sponsoring hajj as defined above within the context of the recent N90 billion subsidy offered by the Tinubu administration to support 2024 Muslim pilgrims.

 

“MURIC had opposed sponsorship of hajj by the federal, state, local government or government agencies in our statement of 14^th June, 2017, (https://dailytrust.com/hajj-fare-muric-begs-fg-state-goverments-to-stop-sponsoring-intending-pilgrims/). We still stand on this pronouncement. Even the Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) took this stand earlier in 2016 (https://punchng.com/stop-organising-hajj-muslim-council-tells-fg/).

 

“Tinubu’s subsidy is a horse of another colour. This is because the president’s intervention is not outright sponsorship but a rescue mission. Such rescue missions are not uncommon in the past when the nation was faced with a crisis that required government’s intervention.

 

“The Muslim pilgrims of 2024 had demonstrated expression of interest and committed themselves to the hajj scheme by paying the initial amount of N4.9 million in full. But the global economic downturn and the Nigerian foreign exchange bruhaha forced the hajj authorities (NAHCON) to demand an additional N1.9 million.

 

“At this point most of the prospective pilgrims had reached the end of their tethers. Some of them were able to raise the first tranche of N4.9 million by selling their properties. Others raised it by saving over a period of five or more years.

 

“To fully understand the plight of 2024 intending pilgrims, we may need to compare the fees paid by 2023 pilgrims. 2023 Hajj fare was N1.8m for pilgrims flying from Maiduguri and Yola. Others paid more depending on the distance (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/592201-muslims-pilgrims-agency-nahcon-announces-2023-hajj-fare.html?tztc=1).

 

“But the cost of pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia hit the roofs this year for obvious reasons and the unfortunate prospective pilgrims faced a dilemma. It had somehow become a frustrating experience particularly for those who could not raise any additional money.

 

“The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has revealed that 46,000 out of the 95,000 slots given to Nigeria for the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia have been unable to pay their fares and other charges for the 2024 hajj (https://leadership.ng/hajj-2024-46000-intending-pilgrims-yet-to-make-full-payment/#google_vignette). No responsible government anywhere in the world will ignore the plight of such a large number of its citizens under such a vulnerable and unpredictable condition. Tinubu’s intervention is therefore in order.

 

“By the way, it was not as if Tinubu played Father Christmas with the N90 billion subsidy because the actual amount needed to bail out the pilgrims was N230 billion. Many stakeholders, including the House of Representatives, appealed to the president to intervene in the matter of 2024 intending pilgrims before he made the move. Yet Tinubu did not pay the whole amount.  (https://dailytrust.com/subsidise-hajj-fare-for-intending-pilgrims-reps-tell-fg/).

 

“He did not even pay half of it. At least no mathematical abracadabra can make N90 billion one half of N230 billion. That explains why NAHCON has been appealing to state governments and other stakeholders to come up with the balance. As a result of NAHCON’s appeal, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi and a few others have added their widow’s mite.

 

“Those criticizing Tinubu’s hajj subsidy conveniently suffered collective amnesia as they elected to ignore the 2023 Christmas rice subsidy of N100 million to every honourable member of the House of Representatives (360 of them) and N200 million to every senator (109) for same. The total amount for the rice subsidy was N57.8 billion (https://dailytrust.com/tinubus-n57-8bn-rice-palliative-raises-dust/).

 

“But if they missed the Christmas rice subsidies, were they on sabbatical when Tinubu rolled out the Buhari trains gratis to subsidise the transport fares of Nigerians travelling during the 2023 Christmas? The free train rides were announced on 20^th December and the exercise took off the next day. Though planned to last till 4^th January, FG extended the boom for another week. Why have they forgotten so soon when Christmas was just three months ago? (https://leadership.ng/christmas-as-travellers-enjoy-50-slashed-fares-on-22-routes-free-train-rides/).

 

“We can all imagine what the free train rides cost the Federal Government in three weeks if we go by what the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) makes every quarter. It is on record that NRC generated N768.44 million from passengers in the first quarter of 2023, N1.10 billion in Quarter 2 and 1.48 billion in the third quarter (https://www.thecable.ng/nbs-nrc-generated-n4-2bn-from-train-services-in-nine-months/).

 

“However, the revenue fell to a paltry N1.07 billion in quarter 4 (https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/02/nrc-generated-n1-07bn-in-fourth-quarter-of-2023-nbs/). It is noteworthy that FG’s free train ride during Christmas which of course translates to Christmas transport subsidy occurred in quarter 4 and it was directly responsible for the fall in revenue.  

 

“Besides the Christmas rice subsidy and free train rides, Tinubu also ordered the slashing of the transport fares of travellers on 22 routes using private commercial buses by 50% (https://tribuneonlineng.com/yuletide-tinubu-slashes-christmas-bus-transport-cost-by-50/).

 

“Has any of the armchair critics taken the time off to estimate the humongous cost implication of the Christmas subsidies? No, their eyes are always fixated on ensuring that nothing goes to the Muslims. But are Muslim pilgrims not Nigerians?

 

“Assuming that we remove the cost of the Christmas rice subsidy which was N57.8 billion, that of the Christmas free train and that of the Christmas 50% rebate on commercial buses, what, for crying out loud, would remain of the N90 billion hajj subsidy for which idle critics now want to bring down the sky? Wouldn’t Nigerian Muslims be asking for a balance payment?

 

“The criticism of Tinubu over the hajj subsidy policy is spiced with bad blood, garnished with toxic faith and served with tramadolised religiousity. It is short in objectivity but long in acrobatic religiousity.”

 

#Hajj2024

#HajjSubsidy

#LikeChristmasSubsidyLikeHajjSubsidy

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

S.O.S TO PRESIDENT TINUBU: RETURN LAGOS MUSLIM PRAYER GROUND – MURIC

 

1^st April, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

S.O.S TO PRESIDENT TINUBU: RETURN LAGOS MUSLIM PRAYER GROUND – MURIC

 

An Islamic advocacy organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has sent a Save Our Soul (S.O.S) message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the continued seizure of the Muslim praying Ground at Obalende, Lagos, despite an order by former President Buhari that the place should be returned to the Lagos Muslim Community who are the rightful owners.

 

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, 1^st April, 2024, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the continued seizure of the praying ground as illegal, unjust and the mother of all impunities.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The Lagos Muslim Community is now left without a befitting praying ground for its Salah (‘Id) prayers. Its only known praying ground at Obalende has long been seized by the Nigerian security agencies who have refused to vacate the place even after ex-President Muhammadu Buhari issued an order to that effect.

“The land was initially given to the Lagos Muslim Community by the fourth colonial Governor General of Nigeria, Sir Donald Cameron (1931 – 1935), through an Indenture on August 9, 1931, ‘to HOLD the same unto, and to the use of the Grantees forever, free from all encumbrances.’

“However, the praying ground was commandeered by the army and other security agencies during the military era and the Muslim rightful owners were denied access even on Salah days. This compelled the Lagos Muslim Community to look for uncomfortably small empty spaces around Lagos Island. It created a lot of discomfort.

“This situation informed MURIC’s intervention and its resultant press statement captioned ‘Don’t Commandeer Obalende Praying Ground: MURIC Tells Army, LASG’ which was issued on 27^th April, 2022 (https://newtelegraphng.com/muric-to-nigerian-army-vacate-obalende-muslim-praying-ground/;https://muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com/2022/04/dont-commandeer-obalende-praying-ground.html;).

“Seeing that the security agencies did not shift ground, a delegation of the Lagos Muslim Community met former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa on March 22^nd, 2023 to table their request. Thereafter, the ex-President constituted a powerful five-man committee to investigate the matter and report back to him.

“The five-man committee, under the chairmanship of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff, had the Minister of Works and Housing, the Minister of Defence, the Director-General of the DSS, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Permanent Secretary, State House as members.

“On completion of its assignment and submission of its report, ex-President Buhari issued an order for the return of the land in dispute. This was on Monday, 28^th May, 2023. The order was published in several newspapers.

“MURIC is baffled that the presidential order which was given more than ten months ago has not been obeyed. We learnt from the Muslim Community that the occupiers are asking for an official letter stating the exact wordings of the order before they can vacate the land.

“This is most disturbing. Do we call this redtape procrastination, crass ineptitude or sheer sabotage? What can be more official than a statement issued by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on that fateful day? Who is imagining forgery here even when the statement was published by all the mainstream newspapers including the Punch, Guardian and Leadership?

 

The links to the story of the presidential order is still readily available in cyberspace (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/buhari-orders-return-of-prayer-grounds-to-lagos-muslim-community/; https://guardian.ng/news/buhari-wades-into-obalende-muslim-praying-ground-crisis/; https://leadership.ng/surrender-obalende-eid-prayer-ground-to-lagos-muslims-buhari-orders-dodan-barracks/; etc.)

 

“We are miffed to our marrows by this bureaucratic namby-pamby. How can a presidential order be defied? It is baffling. A presidential order is above every other declaration. It is above any military directive or memorandum from the head of any security agency. It is the law. We believe that the order remains valid and any attempt to disregard it amounts to rebellion.

 

“A portion of land which belongs to the Muslim Community was confiscated by military fiat. Now the Commander-in-Chief has given the order to quit. How can any disciplined security agency disobey that order? It smirks of indiscipline, insurbordination and sabotage.

 

“Here is a good example of how and why the citizens become radicalized. Why should government and its agencies themselves ignore the rule of law? A legitimately acquired Muslim property is unlawfully seized by security agencies who still defy a presidential order to hand over the property. It is incomprehensible. It is an invitation to anarchy.

 

“This necessitates a Save Our Soul (S.O.S) message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Only Mr. President can issue a final order for the security agencies to vacate the Obalende Muslim praying ground with immediate effect so that we can observe the coming Salah prayer on the spot.

 

“Urgent action is needed before Lagos Muslims rise in protest at the confiscated praying ground. By the way, can we imagine a scenario whereby Muslims converge on the spot on Salah day to protest? Is it impossible? Do the authorities think Lagos Muslims are not conscious enough of their Allah-given fundamental human rights to be ready to protest against this injustice, this impunity, this illegality?

 

“Lagos Island is totally and completely choked. There is no single open space for Muslims to observe the Salah prayer coming up on 10^th April, 2024 or 11^th April, 2024 or as announced by the national leadership of the Ummah, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar.

 

“MURIC appeals to the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila and all the serving Muslim ministers in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring this S.O.S message to the attention of the president and C-In-C as a matter of utmost urgency. He may not be aware of it at all.

 

“It is most likely that the president will come to Lagos to celebrate Salah next week. We therefore implore the Oba of Lagos to intercede on behalf of Lagos Muslims by visiting Mr. President and raising the issue before him when he comes home for Salah. In like manner, we suggest that the Muslim Community should raise a small delegation of three or five Muslims who will visit the president to discuss the issue during his visit to Lagos.

 

“President Tinubu should not allow this illegality to stand. As the C-In-C, he has overall power over all the security agencies. He can order a cessation of the impunity. He can inject a heavy dose of civility and the rule of law in them. Only compliance with the earlier presidential order to vacate the Muslim praying ground at Obalende will make any sense.

 

“In keeping with its avowed motto, ‘Dialogue, No Violence’, MURIC will continue to use civility, decorum and all legitimate and peaceful means to register the grievances of Nigerian Muslims. We therefore strongly appeal to the Lagos Muslim Community in particular and all Nigerian Muslims in general, to bear with the situation until President Tinubu takes action on it. We have no scintilla of doubt that this will happen soon because we have a listening president.”

 

#Presidency

#Nigerian Army

#DSS

#VacateMuslimPrayingGround

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

BAN ON ORO CURFEW IN ILE-IFE: MURIC THANKS OONI, IG, CP

 

28^th March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

BAN ON ORO CURFEW IN ILE-IFE: MURIC THANKS OONI, IG, CP

 

The curfew imposed on Ile-Ife by Oro worshippers yesterday, Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 failed to take place due to the intervention of the Ooni of Ife and the security agencies. Consequently, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which spearheaded the cry against the proposed curfew, has expressed gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police and the Ooni of Ife. 

 

The appreciation was expressed in a press statement issued on Thursday, 28th March, 2024 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said:

 

"Reports reaching us from our situation room in Ile-Ife indicate the total failure of the curfew declared by Oro worshippers in Ile-Ife yesterday, 27th March, 2024.

 

"From Arubidi through Ehindi, Enuwa, Oriyangi, Igbotapa, Ilare, Moore, etc, the city bubbled with activities as citizens went about their daily works without fear. 

 

"Though the Oro worshippers came out in a procession, their outing took place parri pasu with the Ramadan tafsir programmes going on in Enuwa Central Mosque as well as other mosques situated in Ilare, Arubidi, Itakogun, Igbotapa, Ilode, Sabo and other mosques. 

 

"MURIC is also in possession of a strong evidence of a peaceful atmosphere in form of a video showing Muslims as they assembled in front of their mosque listening to the Ramadan tafsir while at the same time a procession of Oro worshippers passed by peacefully. The video also showed a good number of policemen in uniform who accompanied the Oro worshippers to maintain law and order. 

 

"MURIC thanks the Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. We commend the professional conduct of men of the Nigeria Police in Ile-Ife. In particular, the Ooni must be singled out for the mature and fatherly role which he played in the issue. 

 

"We have reports that the Ooni invited leaders of the Oro worshippers and the Muslims and directed that both groups should go about their affairs without disturbing each other or engaging in any act of violence. This is leadership par excellence and we appreciate his Royal Majesty for this. An earlier video clip which is available on YouTube showed the Ooni advising Oro worshippers to stop daytime curfews.

 

"Before we draw the curtain, we wish to put our policy on interfaith in proper perspective, particularly our relationship with followers of African Traditional Religion (Oro worshippers and adherents of masquerades, Osun, Obatala, etc). MURIC embraces people of other faiths in dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect. Our motto is 'Dialogue, No Violence'. 

 

"In our own view, Oro worshippers, masquerades, Obatala, Osun adherents and others are free to observe their festivals and worship the way they like so long as they do not stop us from worshipping the way we like.

 

"Our policy on interreligious coexistence is based on the guideline laid down by the Glorious Qur'an that 'For you is your religion and for us our religion' (Qur'an 109:6). It is only those who are bent on spreading falsehood who call MURIC an extremist group that does not want to see traditionalists and Christians."

 

#KudosHouseOfRepresentatives

#WidowsWidowersLeave

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

SOS TO IG, OSUN CP: STOP ILLEGAL CURFEW DECLARED BY ORO WORSHIPPERS IN ILE-IFE - MURIC

 

26^th March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

SOS TO IG, OSUN CP: STOP ILLEGAL CURFEW DECLARED BY ORO WORSHIPPERS IN ILE-IFE - MURIC

 

Oro worshippers declared a five-hour curfew in Ile-Ife yesterday, Monday 25th March, 2024 to take effect tomorrow, Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 from 2 pm to 7 pm. 

 

However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the curfew as illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. The human rights organization therefore sent an SOS to both the IG of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state to disallow the curfew and uphold the rule of law.

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 26th March, 2024 by the Executive Director of the Islamic advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

The full statement reads: 

 

"Oro worshippers of the Traditional African Religion (ATR) declared a five-hour curfew in Ile Ife yesterday, Monday 25th March, 2024. The curfew will take effect tomorrow Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 from 2 pm to 7 pm. 

 

"In a statement circulated on social media in Ile Ife by O.O Dada, the Oba Isoro and Arole Obatala, Obalesu Obatala Agbaiye, the Oro worshippers announced the commencement of the Oro Owa Ilare festival. They warned all 'dwellers of Ile-Ife to stay indoors' in more than half of the ancient city and cradle of Yorubaland including Igbotapa, Ajamopo, Gbodo, Ita olopo, Oja-Ife, etc. 

 

"This curfew is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional particularly because it was declared by those who have no authority to do so. Leaders of Oron worshippers have no locus standi as official authorities or an arm of government. The curfew announcement is therefore ultra vires, null and void. 

 

"Only the state governor and the chairman of the local government have the power to impose a curfew after a negative security report. The curfew imposed by Oro worshippers in Ile-Ife is therefore illegal.

 

“We are therefore sending this staterment as an SOS to both the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state to disallow the curfew and uphold the rule of law.

 

"Besides, no religious group has the right to stop other religious groups and citizens of this country from moving around freely or from using their places of worship. 

 

"The notice issued by the Oro worshippers of Ile-Ife is therefore arbitrary, irrational and provocative. It contravenes Chapter 4 Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended 2011) which stipulates that every Nigerian has the right to move freely in any part of the country or any city. 

 

“The curfew notice also stands in contradistinction to Section 38 (i) & (ii) which affirms freedom of worship. It says, ‘every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance’. This curfew, if allowed to take place, will obstruct Muslims in Ile-Ife from worshipping and partaking in Ramadan activities.

 

"The notice issued yesterday by the Oro worshippers of Ile-Ife was essentially directed at Muslims in particular as indicated in its title which reads, 'Special Announcement From the House of Obatala to All Muslims and Dwellers in Ile-Ife'. 

 

"This is aggravated confrontation. It smirks of a deliberate attempt to provoke Muslims in the city to a confrontation. This is apart from placing an illegal curfew during the sacred month of Ramadan which the whole world knows is a special period of high level spiritual activities among Muslims. It is clear that by attempting to ban movement during Ramadan, Oro worshippers in Ile-Ife simply wish to stop Muslims from worshipping. It is a premeditated hostile act.

 

"Apart from religious consideration, this daytime imposition of curfew from 2 pm to 7 pm constitutes a clog in the wheel of socio-economic progress for Ile-Ife and a threat to educational advancement. For example, school children and their male and female teachers are expected to return home around 2 pm. The same goes for civil servants, judiciary staff, etc. It is an invitation to chaos.

 

"This announcement by Oro worshippers has created terror in the hearts of all. Without mincing words, it is domestic terrorism. It is impunity of the highest order. It is also a deliberate challenge to the security agencies. The traditional worshippers have been enmeshed in lawlessness, recklessness and acts of violence all over Yorubaland in the past and the police have not stopped them. Will the police and DSS abdicate their responsibilities this time around? 

 

"A good example of past tramadolised excesses of traditional worshippers is the attack launched by Oro worshippers last year on Muslims who were praying inside Idi Omo Mosque, Ilare, Ile-Ife on Thursday, 30th March, 2023. Four Muslims sustained serious injuries in that attack (https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2023/04/01/how-oro-worshippers-attacked-muslims-inside-mosque-in-ile-ife/). 

 

"Also, one Muslim was killed while 9 other Muslims were injured in Osogbo when masquerade worshippers attacked Muslims holding a programme in front of their mosque situated at Oluode Aranyin compound, Osogbo on 28^th June, 2021  (https://www-vanguardngr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/1-killed-as-masquerade-group-clashes-with-worshipers-in-osun/amp/). 

 

"Again, five Muslims were hospitalized after a vicious attack by masquerades who invaded their mosque at Ikun Ekiti in Moba Local Government of Ekiti State on Sunday, 39th May, 2017 (https://dailytrust.com/masquerades-attack-muslims-in-ekiti-destroy-mosque-properties/). The list of such attacks is endless.

 

"We are sending an SOS to the Inspector General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Director of DSS in the state. The security agencies owe it a duty to disallow the curfew announced by Oro worshippers against tomorrow in Ile-Ife. The rule of law must be upheld.

 

"As the traditional ruler and father of all in Ile-Ife, we appeal to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to call the Oro worshippers to order. It is part of the law of nature that groups pushed to the wall have the tendency to push back their oppressor. 

 

"Just like the rest of the country, Ile-Ife needs peace to develop and to take its rightful place as the cradle of Yorubaland. This may remain a dream where a group is allowed to impose acrobatic, gymnastic and articulated impunity on other sections of the city. Muslims of Ile-Ife remain oppressed until illegal curfews are banned."

 

#IGofPolice

#CPOsun

#SOSStopOroIllegalCurfewIleIfe

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).