Oro Worshipers Invade Mosque, Attack Imam, Congregation In Ogun State
Tension in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State as some Oro worshippers stormed a mosque in Idi-Iroko and stoned the Imam and the congregation during prayers.
It was reliably gathered that the Oro worshippers got angry because Muslims ignored their warnings and came out to observe solat prayers during Oro festival.
The Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta state, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal told newsmen that the incident happened during the observance of the afternoon ( Suhr ) prayer at the mosque.
While explaining the reason for the attack, Lawal said residents of the community had been warned by the Oro worshippers not to go out during their festival on Saturday.
He said Muslims in the area first complied with the directive but later came out to observe the afternoon prayer, which led to the attack on them by the Oro traditionalists inside the mosque.
Lawal stated, “The incident occurred around 1:18 pm on Saturday when our Muslim brothers were observing the Suhr prayer at the Umar bin Khattab Mosque at Odan -Aje, behind the General Hospital, Idi-Iroko.
“ The Oro adherents invaded the mosque and stoned the Imam and the congregation with stones, and chased them away. They later destroyed the property in the mosque .”
While warning against the religious crisis in the state, the Islamic leader said, “ We condemn the action of the Oro adherents and urge the government to intervene in the issue before it escalates.
“ It is not in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution that no one, whether he is a Muslim or not, must not go out on a particular day or time because of the Oro festival.
“ Everybody is free to practice what he wants; no one should impose his ideology on another person. The government must intervene before it becomes too late. ”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
He said the command had arrested some of the perpetrators while some are at large.
