Many Seriously Injured as Osun Traditionalists Invades Mosque

Many have been reportedly injured as Traditionalists in Osun invaded a mosque.

The incident, according to the Punch, when a wild demonstration was held by a group of angry associates of the Muslim community in Ile-Ife,after a group of traditionalists suspected to be Oro worshippers forced their way into a mosque in the Ilare neighbourhood, thus, constituting nuisance.

Following the information gathered, angry Muslims voice spoke about their frustrations, saying the assailants invaded the mosque premises, where some worshippers assembled to carry out the 4p.m prayers in the ongoing fasting.

Against this melee, some occupants of building were said to have suffered varied bodily damages from the intruders.

It was gathered that the chief imam of the mosque, Abdul-Lateef Adediran, was said to be badly hurt on the face during the attack while five other worshippers were left in life threatening condition after getting stabbed by the attackers.

Reacting to the sad occurrence, an inhabitant of the region, who gave his name only as simply as Kareem, noted that, “we were in the mosque to pray. Some people were performing ablution when the Oro worshippers entered the mosque. We were aware that they would be going around with Oro and we didn’t meddle in their affairs. They had passed through the area. They later returned and entered the mosque”.

“The imam was trying to ask what their mission was, but they didn’t even allow him to talk before they started beating every one of us. Six people were stabbed. Our imam sustained injuries on his face. All those injured were taken to hospitals in Ile-Ife”, he recalled.

Consequent upon the demonstration, the enraged protesters moved through the town’s well-known streets and went to the palace of the Ooni of Ife. 

However, the traditional ruler wasn’t around when they arrived. Also, the protesters appealed that the perpetrators of the attack should be fished out and taken into custody.

One of the protesters, recalled the same unpleasant expert the previous year, November,  2022 where same affected victims suffered similar experience in the hand of the Traditionalists.

Towncriernews.ng, gathered that there is peace meeting between leadership of the Muslim community in Ife and the Ile-Ife Traditional Council as well as Christians living in the town on the need to cohabit.