The paramount traditional ruler of Ile Ife, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi ,Ojaja II has appealed for peace and orderliness in the ancient city of Ile-Ife and its environs after Oro worshippers attacked some Muslims observing the late afternoon prayers at Idi Omoh Mosque in Ilare, Ile Ife, Osun State.
A group of Oro traditional worshippers reportedly attacked the Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Abdullateef Adesiyan including some other Muslims at the ablution area.
Speaking through second-in-command, Obalufe of Ifeland, Oba Idowu Adediwura, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ile-Ife.
He explained that, as the royal father of Christians, Muslims, traditional worshippers as well as being a leader who championed peaceful coexistence across the world, there was no reason why his home should be in turmoil.
He added that he believes strongly that people of different faiths should be able to live peacefully, in harmony.
The monarch noted that the two major faiths and traditional worshippers had coexisted peacefully and that there should not be hostilities between them now.
Four persons were reportedly injured when traditional religion worshippers attacked worshippers in a mosque in Ile-Ife on Thursday.
Traditional worshippers had announced on Wednesday that the “Oro” cult would perform some rituals in various parts of Ife between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., advising residents to steer clear from the areas.
According to a congregant in the mosque, Abdulazeez Bashir, the Oro adherents broke through the fence and began whipping worshippers with canes, instructing them to leave the ablution area.
“One of them even attacked the Imam, Alhaji Abdullateef Adesiyan while coming into the mosque. He was beaten with a cane and hit in the face with a rod.
“When I discovered that about five persons had been injured, apart from the Imam of the mosque, I had to call the Ife Chief Imam, Alhaji AbdulSemiu AbdulHammed to intimate him with the happenings.
“The situation could have escalated into a big crisis when other Muslims began to gather around, but the traditionalists eventually left. The victims were later taken to a hospital for treatment,” Bashir said.
Confirming the incident, Osun Police Command spokesperson SP Yemisi Opalola stated that an investigation into the mosque attack had commenced.
Oba Ogunwusi promised to renovate the mosque that was affected as well as bear the medical expenses of the Imam of the mosque.
The Chief Imam of Ifeland, Alhaji AbdulHammed, told pressmen on Friday that the trouble had been settled.
He confirmed that the traditional religion worshippers assaulted the Imam of Idiomo Mosque, Ilare, Abdullateef Adesiyan, inside the mosque.
AbdulHammed called for maintenance of fundamental rights of religion, speech and peace among others.
“There is no family throughout Africa that practices one religion. There should be freedom for individuals to practice whatever religion they choose without coercion,” he said.
The Chief Imam appealed to indigenes to maintain peace and orderliness during each festival in the town, stressing that there is nothing lucrative in violence.