metro

Stay away from Ilorin, Islamic council warns Isese traditional worshippers

Published

2 years ago

August 15, 2023

Stay away from Ilorin, Islamic council warns Isese traditional worshippers

The Council of Ulama (Islamic clerics) in Kwara State on Tuesday warned those planning to celebrate traditional religion or Ifa festival in Ilorin, the state capital, to retrace their steps.

The council warned that Ifa festival, under any guise, would not be allowed in any part of Ilorin Emirate, comprising Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West and Ilorin South local government areas.

The executive secretary of the council, Justice Salihu Mohammed made the position of the council known at a press conference held in Ilorin.

Mohammed, a former Grand Khadi of Kwara state Sharia Court of Appeal spoke on behalf of the chairman of the Council of Ulama and Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Bashir Salihu.

The Secretary who said that Ilorin, Kwara State capital was known as sanctuary of Islam for more than 200 years and renowned for Islamic faith, practice, Spirituality and Knowledge stated that the insistence of the youth wing of the International Council for Ifa Religion( ICIR) to hold their festival in Ilorin on August 20th 2023, posed danger to the security of lives and property across the state.

“It is in the light of this that we have found it extremely necessary to plead with the Kwara State government and all stakeholders to appeal to the ICIR and similar interest groups to stay away from Ilorin as available evidence convinced us that the staging of the event in Ilorin would have a serious negative consequence on the peace of Kwara State.

READ ALSO:

“We are not unmindful of the pillage of aspersions and insults mounted on our father, the Emir of Ilorin and chairman, Council of Emirs and Chiefs in Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari by individuals that are expected to know better, which are unfortunate, condemnable and inexcusable.

“We don’t think any individuals or group has anything to gain from destruction of the harmonious coexistence. The people of Ilorin Emirate, particularly the Kwara State Council of Ulama cannot be coerced by any person or group of persons claiming to be representing intellectualism or atheistic practices to destroy what our forefathers have fought for.

“As community and opinion leaders in our various places of abode, we are not unaware of the readiness of various youth groups never to allow the staging of the so called ‘isese’ festival anywhere in Ilorin .

“To them, such activities would pollute the peace and tranquillity of the community as it is also been seen as invasion and an act of cultural imperialism.

“We as leaders, see merit in the position of the Muslim youths. We sincerely believe that it is unwise and wrong for non residents of a community to forcefully impose imported thoughts or practices on their hosts .This is repugnant to natural justice and it will certainly lead to the brake down of law and order.”

“We must make it abundantly clear that we are not against the celebration of isese festival. What is important to let the whole World know is that we , the people of Ilorin, have absolutely nothing to do with it. We understand the motive of their sinister and abominable move but warn that Ilorin have moved on.

READ ALSO:

“The Emirate might be a Yoruba speaking city, it must be realized that its present culture is no longer that of Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe or any other, but purely an Islamic culture. We therefore advise that they should allow peace to reign across Nigeria. All we are saying is that it should not be held where the celebrators and celebration would not be welcomed. Ilorin is certainly not among the places that should be considered for such a festival if the organisers are patriotic and well meaning”, Mohammed said.

While appealing to Muslim youths and other stakeholders to exercise patience, Mohammed appealed to Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, ” to direct all the security agencies in the state to take note of this threat to the peace and security of the state .A stitch in time saves nine.”

Up Next

NAF Investigates as terrorists claim responsibility for Niger jet crash

Don't Miss

BREAKING: Gunmen storm secondary school in Plateau kill 2 teachers, injure vice principal

metro

Group cautions against demoralising Nigeria’s troops with negative global rankings

Published

19 minutes ago

March 11, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian military Troops

Group cautions against demoralising Nigeria’s troops with negative global rankings

A civil society group, Ayudantees Empowerment Initiative (AYI), has lashed out at the decision to rank Nigeria as the 6th most terrorised country in the recent Global Terrorism Index.

Addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Executive Director, AYI, Amechi Chuks Oyema, faulted the new ranking for not considering recent massive gains against terrorists in the country.

“We are here to reject that report and say that it doesn’t reflect the situation on ground.

“How did they arrive at that rating? Was the Nigerian authorities carried along?

“Did the report consider that the enemies of the country, the bandits, terrorists are under pressure as a result of intensive operations by the Armed forces of Nigeria?

READ ALSO:

“Did they consider the number of bandits, terrorists etc that have surrended to our troops?

“Did they consider the number that have been neutralized in battle ground?

“Did they consider the aggression with which our troops are pursuing the enemies of our country?” The group queried.

While saying it stands with the Defence Headquarters to declare that the report is not valid, AYI said GTI should have considered reports on ground. Analyse them critically before submitting the report, even as it warned against action that will demoralise Nigerian troops.

“There is no gainsaying that reports like this can cause apprehension in the society.

“AYI notes the people must be considered before reports like this are released.

“Our troops making sacrifices should not be demoralised. We need to support them.

“Hence, AYI like the DHQ is advising the public, especially the media, to ignore the report.

“The troops under the able leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa must be supported.

“We must not generate reports that don’t reflect what is on ground.”

Group cautions against demoralising Nigeria’s troops with negative global rankings

metro

Man butchers wife to death in A’Ibom over infidelity

Published

23 minutes ago

March 11, 2025

Trends Admin

Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, ASP Timfon John

Man butchers wife to death in A’Ibom over infidelity

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command arrested a 42-year-old man, Victor Okoh, for the alleged gruesome murder of his wife, Victoria Okoh, 38, in Oron Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred at their residence in Effiong Essang street on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident said the suspect butchered his wife with a machete to death over accusations of infidelity.

“At about 05:20hrs, operatives of the Command swiftly responded to a distress call from concerned residents. On arrival at the scene, officers discovered the mutilated body of the deceased lying outside the house she shared with her husband,” the statement read.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked his wife with a machete over accusations of infidelity.

“Further reports indicated that the suspect was hiding in the ceiling of the house in an attempt to evade arrest.

READ ALSO:

“The operatives tactically secured the building, forced entry, and successfully apprehended him.

“The machete used in committing the crime was recovered by the police and photographs were taken for investigation purposes.

“The corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital Morgue for an autopsy, while the suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has condemned the act in its entirety and assured the public that justice will take its full course.

“He further warned against all forms of domestic violence and called on residents to seek lawful means of resolving disputes rather than resorting to violence.

“The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and urges the public to promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.”

Man butchers wife to death in A’Ibom over infidelity

metro

Naira spraying: Court jails two sibling ex-convicts, one other in Ibadan

Published

30 minutes ago

March 11, 2025

Trends Admin

Naira spraying: Court jails two sibling ex-convicts, one other in Ibadan

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has sentenced two siblings, Amos Remilekun Ilesanmi and Olanrewaju Samuel Ilesanmi, alongside Ugbeh Emmanuel Ukali, to six months imprisonment for naira mutilation.

Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity for the EFCC, confirmed the ruling in a statement released on Monday sighted by Chronicle NG.

Justice Uche Agomoh delivered the judgment after the three were arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 25, 2025, on a joint one-count charge.

The EFCC disclosed that the Ilesanmi brothers were ex-convicts, having been sentenced to three months of community service on October 2, 2024, for internet fraud and impersonation. Ukali, on the other hand, is currently facing prosecution for an internet fraud case before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.

READ ALSO:

The charge against them reads, “That you Ilesanmi Amos Remilekun, Ilesanmi Olanrewaju Samuel, and Ugbeh Emmanuel Ukali on or about 6th June, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sprayed the total sum of N391,400.00 (Three Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Four Hundred Naira) of N500 and N200 (Five Hundred and Two Hundred Naira Notes) denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(4) of the Central Bank Act, 2007 and Punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.”

The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge. Following this, the prosecution counsel, Abideen Muhammad Aliyu, presented EFCC operative Adegbite Adebayo as a witness and tendered incriminating documents and items in evidence. Aliyu then urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.

Defense counsel, Akinlabi Akinfala, pleaded with the court for leniency, arguing that the defendants were first-time offenders who had shown remorse.

Justice Agomoh, however, convicted and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each, without the option of a fine. The court also ordered that the N391,400 they sprayed be forfeited to the federal government.

Their ordeal began in June 2024 when they were arrested at a nightclub in Akure, Ondo State, for spraying and trampling on naira notes.