OGUN STATE: Muslims warn against looming crisis as Oro worshippers declare curfew in daytime
One of our respondents said, “This is another test of will of governments particularly of Ipokia Local Government and Ogun State to show that they are concerned about the peace of the land. There is no right for any religious group or individual to infringe on the religious right of others.”
Muslims in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State have warned against impending religious crisis in the local government over an illegal curfew imposed by Oro traditionalists.
The idol worshippers are said to have declared movement restrictions indicating that there will be no woman coming out of the house from 3pm against period 12am to 4am approved by court for Oro adherents to do their darkt rites without infringing on religious and human rites of others.
The DEFENDER Wednesday posted in its Facebook page video of the complaint.
Speaking through an Islamic Cleric, Imam AbdulAzeez Abdulwaliy, the Muslim community said the curfew contravenes a court judgement obtained in 2012 and an agreement signed within religious groups in Ipokia in 2019.
According to the cleric popularly called Omoakin, the curfew declared by the traditionalists to mark their annual Oro/Orisa Oba festival in the local government is rejected.
While appealing to the government at all levels to intervene in the matter, the cleric said the curfew, if not reversed, could plunge the community and the state into religious crisis.
The clergyman is the Chief Imam of Umar bin Khatab Mosque, Odan-Aje, behind General Hospital, Idi-Iroko, which was invaded during prayer hours by the Oro adherents in 2019.
One of our respondents said, “This is another test of will of governments particularly of Ipokia Local Government and Ogun State to show that they are concerned about the peace of the land. There is no right for any religious group or individual to infringe on the religious right of others.”
