At least, one person has been killed and two others sustained various degrees of injuries in the clash between suspected Islamic extremists and traditionalists on Friday.
Our Correspondent gather, dangerous looking men who are suspected to be Islamic fundamentalists, on Friday, stormed the house of a traditionalist, Waheed Ganiu, who is an ally of Olota of Ota, HRM Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, killing his son and injuring two other people who are residents of the area in what appeared to be a religious fight between the two.
In an interview with one of the residents of the area, who spoke with VOA News Correspondent under the condition of anonymity, said that the extremists came in numbers, wielding various weapons and chanting some words in Arabic, an event that made some of the residents to seek cover while others attempted to wade in but unfortunately, met stiff resistance from the extremists.
“We were at home on Friday just after Juma’at service when we started hearing some Arabic language like a chorus and we rushed out to confirm the crux of the matter. We were surprised to see the some people whom we suspected to be Muslims and numbering about twenty or more. They then marched to the house of Mr. Waheed, who was at home with his family. Myself and some other neighbors had to take to our heels when we found out that we could not stop the advancement. It was later we discovered that Mr. Ganiu narrowly escaped while they killed his son and injured two other residents”.
He however, called on the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to not relent until the perpetrators were brought to book as the incidence was one too many in Nigeria.
In an interview with the CDA Chairman of Irewole Progressive Estate, Mr. John Adesola on the ensued mele, he affirmed the report, citing lacuna in our security architecture as major reason for the breakdown of law and order which resulted into loss of innocent live and properties as a result of religious clash.
“When I got wind of the invasion of the Islamic extremists in our area on Friday afternoon, I quickly placed a call to the Onipanu Division of Nigerian Police Force and they promised to swing into action immediately. It took them almost an hour before they could mobilize their men to the scene of the event after major damage had been done.
If the Policemen had arrived within minutes that a call was placed to them, incidence would have been averted.
My name is Waheed Ganiu Olasukanmi, from Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, I reside at 15, Geri Alimi area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
My Ordeal
It happened that on the 4th of August, 2023, we the traditional worshippers were getting ready for our annual traditional Isese festival as common practice every August 20 throughout Nigeria; which is a National holiday set aside to celebrate the traditional festival.
During this year’s celebrations, suddenly we just saw some Muslim clerics and the Nigerian Police officials who invaded the venue of our celebration, shooting sporadically.
Everybody ran for their safeties and a lot of people were wounded in the melee.
Myself and Azeez Akingbola, popularly known as “Tani Olohun” being the Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator respectively of the festival were wounded when we were running for our dear lives.
Meanwhile, there is a woman among us by name Yeye Omolara Ajesekemi. She was butchered to the extent that she was near dead, but in my own case, I was able to escape to Ota through the help of few transporters that knew me.
My Assistant Coordinator, Akingbola Azeez was later arrested on 16th, of August, 2023 at Sanyo in Ibadan, Oyo State. After which he was transferred to Ilorin, Kwara state, at the state head quarters before he was charged to court.
The name of the Lawyer that helped us to secure his bail is Barrister Lekan Sholesi on the 31st of October, 2023.
All through that time, I was seeking refuge at the palace of the king of our town, HRM Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi, the Olota of Ota; who I was helping out in consulting the traditional gods and setting up his traditional temple.
The traditional king was very impressed with my services and the spiritual protection that I always give him, unfortunately, because of the ensued melee, we could not celebrate the traditional festival in Ilorin in 2023 and as a result, we couldn’t sleep in our houses again, we were hiding because the mauraders and the Police were looking for us. The surprising thing is that we always wear the same white colour clothes and these Islamic fundamentalists’ forefathers were traditionalists like us before they converted.
On the 17th of June, 2024, the Muslims too had their Id-el-Kabir and they invited the king of our town, HRm Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi, the Olota of Ota to the event. I was told that at the festival the King prayed for them and also preached and advice them that the traditionalists and the Muslims are serving the same God and that the mode of worship is what differs.
More so, the white cloth that the traditionalists always wear symbolises peace, citing that traditionalists like Waheed Ganiu Olasukanmi are truthful and honest people.
He then advised Muslims to forgive me and that muslims with the help of some corrupt government officials are abusing my life and my right to life.
He further advised that traditionalists and muslims should embrace one another and live together in peace and harmony.
Meanwhile, all the advices and preachings of the king at the event did not go well with the muslims in attendance.
Two days after the event, the muslim clerics in company of few weird looking Policemen came to my house that is on the 19th of June, 2024 in an attempt to kill me. They raised down my house and all my belongings in the presence of Policemen while the Policemen also started shooting sporadically to scare away sympathizers.
In the course, gun shots wounded and eventually killed my 9 years old son by the name Waheed Ifagbamila and three other innocent neighbours were seriously injured.
These hard-core Islamic fundamentalists have been a threat to me and my family since the year 1999. I can remember vividly on the 10th of August, 1999. My father house’s was attacked and raised down in the process of the attack, my father was butchered and burnt to death in which some part of my body were also burnt with fire during the attack.
Since then till 19th of June, 2024, I have been escaping from one attack to another. Which is affecting me mentally and psychologically
