MURIC accuses Ooni’s palace agents of forcing Ife Muslims to pay Olojo festival levies

MURIC accuses Ooni’s palace agents of forcing Ife Muslims to pay Olojo festival levies

ILE-IFE, Sept. 22, 2025 — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused agents of the Ooni of Ife’s palace of harassing Muslim traders in Ile-Ife by allegedly forcing them to pay levies for the annual Olojo traditional festival.

In a statement issued on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the group received reports from the Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN), Ile-Ife branch, alleging that palace representatives stormed Oja Tuntun Otisese Weekly Market on Tuesday, September 16, to demand the payments.

The group claimed goods belonging to Muslim traders were seized after they refused to comply. Items allegedly taken included clothing materials, 2.5 liters of vegetable oil from a trader identified as Mrs. Balikis Elureni, and 5 liters of oil from Mrs. Akande Moridiyah’s shop.

APTAN’s statement, signed by its branch coordinator, Comrade Adegoke Saidi, alongside Comrades Monsur Jimoh and Banjo Isiaq, accused the palace agents of intimidation, harassment, and economic extortion.

READ ALSO:

• Man caught with gun, knife inside Arizona stadium ahead of Charlie Kirk’s memorial
• European-American University denies awarding doctorate degree to Hausa singer, Rarara
• LAUTECH nurses, midwives begin indefinite strike over minimum wage

MURIC condemned the incident, describing it as “daylight robbery” and “religious persecution.” Professor Akintola said:

> “It is wicked, inhuman and insensitive… To forcefully collect levies for a traditional festival from Muslims and to seize their goods for refusing to pay constitutes an encroachment on their Allah-given fundamental human rights.”

The Islamic rights group further warned that such actions reflected a broader pattern of intolerance by some traditionalists in the South West, citing past incidents where Muslims were allegedly attacked or forcefully initiated into traditional cults.

While stressing that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, may not have sanctioned the acts, MURIC urged him to intervene by disciplining those involved. The suspects were named as Mr. Efunwole Kola, Mr. Sogo Olagbaju, and Mr. Hezekiah Agunbiade.

“We believe Kabiyesi is a man of peace and justice. The parasites must be brought to book to clear Ooni’s good name,” Akintola stated.

MURIC called for the immediate return of all seized goods and justice for the affected Muslim traders.

MURIC accuses Ooni’s palace agents of forcing Ife Muslims to pay Olojo festival levies