Emir Sent Us To Disband Religious Centre Where Christians Worship – Islamic Group
Members of an unidentified Muslim group has claimed that the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari sent them to storm a worship centre that plays host to both Christian and Islamic services in the Alalubosa area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The group also claimed that the worship centre was originally a mosque but has been housing worshippers outside the religion.
In the video of the incident, the members were led by a man referred to as “Olojatuntun” who declared that such practice was an anomaly that would not be tolerated.
The man in the video that surfaced on Facebook on Thursday, was overheard saying, “We are here because of the report that the mosque in Alubosa, Ilorin is where Christians, Muslims, and even traditionalists worship. We observe this practice which should not happen in this town.”
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 “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.
In another video, members of the group met with the owner of the worship centre referred to Iya Meta Lokan. The meeting was seemingly called to sort out concerns raised.
The middle aged woman, dressed in white gown and covered in white scalf 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. 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 would be difficult as that would be against her “spiritual call.”
Malcolm Omirhobo, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, had 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.”
