Members of an unidentified Muslim group recently stormed a worship centre that plays host to both Christian and Islamic services in the Alalubosa area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The group members who said they were acting on the instruction of the Emir Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, revealed that the worship centre was originally a mosque but has been housing worshippers outside the religion.
They were led by a man referred to as “Olojatuntun” who declared that such practice was an anomaly that would not be tolerated.
“We are here because of the report that the mosque in Alubosa, Ilorin where Christians, Muslims, and even traditionalists worship. We observe this practice which should not happen in this town,” the man declared in a video that surfaced on Facebook and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday.
In the video, worshippers at the centre including four men, some women and children were seen listening as the leader of the delegation voiced his displeasure.
Olojatuntun added that henceforth, such practice will not be tolerated as it contravenes the rules laid down by the forefathers of Ilorin.
“We are not here to fight but what we want in the name of the Emir is that the practice must not happen again. It is not an advice; if they must hold Christian service there, they can, but not mix things up.
“We won’t allow anyone to destroy this town; to gather people and ask them to be practising both religions. So tell them (the owners of the mosque) that we must not come back. Though they could claim they own the land, this is the town of Emir,” he stated.
Another video was cited by our correspondent, where members of the group met with the owner of the worship centre referred to Iya Meta Lokan. The meeting was was seemingly called to sort out concerns raised.
The middle aged woman, dressed in white gown and covered in white scarf said she is a devoted Muslim but started ministry “using the ways of Christians.”
“When I was called by God, I was told to teach following the Christian way,” she revealed.
She continued,” I was told to preach to both Muslims and Christians. I have been on the mountain; when Muslims come, we pray likewise for Christians.”
She added that focusing only on Islam will be difficult as that will be against her “spiritual call.”
Recall that a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Malcolm Omirhobo, in 2023 sued the Emir of Ilorin for allegedly stopping traditional religious worshippers from holding their Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara State.
In the suit filed before the Kwara State High Court, Omirhobo, who described himself as an Olokun worshipper, asked the court to declare that the alleged action of the Emir was an affront to the constitutional rights to “freedom of dignity of the human person, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly.”
In July of that year, the PUNCH reported that a Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, went to the house of a traditional religion priestess to warn her against going ahead with her planned Isese festival in Ilorin.
The priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun Omolara Olatunji, an Osun devotee, had earlier reportedly released fliers announcing a three-day traditional event aimed at celebrating certain Yoruba deities.
But the Muslim group, which described the Isese festival as idolatry, said they recalled that the Emir of Ilorin had made a public declaration against such events.
Credit: Punch