Osun: Imam, 3 Others Sustain Injuries As Traditional Worshippers Attack Mosque

— Aggrieved Muslims Stage Protest At Ooni’s Palace

—As Ooni Calls For Peace

By Rafiu Agboola, Osogbo

The Imam of Idi-Omo Mosque, Ilare, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Alh AbduLateef Adesiyan, and three other worshippers have sustained injuries after an attack on their Mosque by traditionalists worshipping occultic ‘Oro’ festival.

The ugly incident it was leant caused pandemonium in the area as people sojourning in the area scampering for safety.

CityMirrorNews gathered that the incident happened around 4 pm Thursday when Muslims were preparing for Ashri (middle day) prayer.

An eyewitness, Malam Bashir AbdulAzeez, said the incident was not the first one, saying that the traditionalists had attacked Muslims at the Ife Central Mosque sometime ago and beat them with a cane.

Narrating how the Thursday attack occurred, AbdulAzeez explained that the traditionalists ordered that people should stay indoors between 2 and 7 pm and Imam went to the palace to plead with them that they should allow Muslims to practice at least for the sake of Ramadan.
Read Also:Royal Queens Hold Inaugural Conference To Discuss Their Impact In National Development
“They later went to the Mosque at Idi-Omo where Muslims were performing ablution inside the fence. They said people should leave the ablution place and go inside the Mosque. Imam Alhaji AbduLateef Adesiyan was coming to the Mosque at that time. One of them beat Imam with a cane to go back home. They beat Imam and hit him with a rod beside his eyes. Muslims ran away immediately.

“I was doing video coverage when one of them attempted to seize my phone but I resisted him. They said one of the Muslims, a Hausa man has died but I don’t believe it because we’ve not seen him since the incident.

“I called the Chief Imam when I discovered that four persons have been wounded and we went to report to the palace. They followed Imam to the Mosque. When the issue became noisy. Some Muslims came out. They were about 150 but when they see Muslims coming out en mass, they went away.

However, scores of the Muslim faithful had on Friday took to the street of Ile-Ife protesting against the incident.

Saturday Telegraph learnt that the protesting Muslims stormed the palace of Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to register their grievances.

Reacting, Ooni of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has asked those involved to allow peace to reign.

The Director of Media, Ooni palace, Moses Olafare while reacting to the incident said Security agents, leaders of the traditionalists and the leadership of the Muslim community have met to address the issue.

“Ife Traditional Council is on top of the matter. The leadership of Muslim community in Ife is also involved in the peace meeting currently ongoing. Muslim, traditionalists and Christians living in the town have been cohabitating in peace for centuries.

“Baba Ooni is calling on all those involved to allow peace to reign. Security agents, leaders of the traditionalists and the leadership of the Muslim community are meeting to address the issue.”
Read Also:Osun Poll: APC Optimistic Of Victory At Supreme Court
However, the spokesperson of the Osun police command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident, saying “we deployed our men to the scene and normalcy have returned to the area while we have commenced investigation to the alleged invasion of Mosque.