The League of Imam has decried the incessant attacks on Muslim faithful and mosques in the state by traditionalists.
Secretary-General, of the league in the state, Shaykh Tajudeen Mustapha Adewunmi, in a press release made available to Tribune Online on Tuesday, called on the state government to ensure the safety of the people of the state particularly Muslims in some parts of the stated.
The call was made a sequel to the October 22, 2019, attack on Muslims in the Iperu Remo Local Government of the state.
Adewumi alleged that Eluku cultists attacked Zumuratul Mu’min Mosque in Amororo area of Iperu town while Muslims were preparing for the dusk (maghrib) prayers and inflicted severe bodily injuries on them.
He added that properties within and around the mosque including vehicles parked within the vicinity of the mosque were destroyed by the cultists.
Two of the injured Muslims are still at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, (OOUTH), Sagamu.
While noting that traditional worshippers have been imposing curfews on people while celebrating their festivals without consideration for other religious adherents, Adewumi called on the state government and security operatives to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks.
The statement reads in part: “The most recent occurrence happened in Ipokia, Ikenne, Iperu, and some other area of Ogun State. In all the occurrences over the years, culprits have not been treated in a manner that could serve as a deterrent to others.
“For more than 10 years, the traditional worshippers have been imposing curfews on people, closing down all commercial and academic activities for days, all in the name of celebrating their festivals without consideration for other religious adherents.
“In Islam, Muslims are enjoined to pray five times daily at stipulated times. Such imposed curfews have been serious infringements on the Muslims’ rights towards freedom of worship as ordained by our Creator and supported by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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“On July 29, 2019. Oro worshippers invaded various mosques within Ipokia Local Government Area wielding dangerous weapons and charms with which they attacked Muslims who fled for their lives. Several properties were destroyed and many people suffered various bodily injuries.
“Also, despite the intervention of the leadership of league of Imam and Alfa in Ogun State, on September 8, 2019, the Oro worshippers attacked Muslims in Ipokia, Tube and its environs, during daylight.
“Whereas, in 2018, the Ogun State High Court in Ipokia had declared the imposition of curfew on the People of Ipokia by Oro worshippers in the daytime as illegal. The court also declared that Oro festival or ritual could only be celebrated between 12:am and 4: am.
“Prior to these recent attacks, Muslims in Ijebu-Ode and its environs have always been under fears and anxiety from the activities of Agemo worshippers which usually results in attacks from the traditional worshippers on the Muslims.
“On October 22 2019, the Eluku cultists attacked Zumuratul Mu’min Mosque in Amororo area of Iperu town while the Muslims were preparing for the dusk (maghrib) prayers inflicting severe bodily injuries on them and willfully destroyed properties within and around the mosque including vehicles parked within the vicinity of the mosque.
“The matter was reported by the Iperu Muslim committee at the Iperu Police Station. It is, however, disappointing that no arrest has been made yet. The league, as the representative of the Muslim Ummah in Ogun State, views very seriously, all the above frequent and incessant attacks on Muslims in very many areas of Ogun State.
“Such attacks have left serious physiological and psychological damages not only on the individuals affected and their family members but also on the entire Muslim community.
“We request the Ogun state government to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of all citizens, especially, from unwarranted attacks by some religious adherents on others.
“We request that the State government should ensure that justice is done at all times such that culprits of wrong behaviours and actions are appropriately punished to serve as a deterrent to others. Justice is indeed the denominator to the quality of peace and peaceful co-existence in any community.”
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