NEW YEAR ATTACK ON MUSLIM & CHRISTIAN WORSHIPERS IN ILORIN: A CALL FOR CAUTION

Date: 2018-01-04

Reports of midnight attacks on Muslim and Christian worshippers in Ilorin, the Kwara State has been in the public domain in the last few days.

While the Muslims, the Kwara State Police Command and general public knew and spread the correct version of the incident, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kwara State Branch, has continued to spread falsehood, blackmail and parochial information aimed at attracting sympathy for its members who were less affected compared to members of Quareeb Islamic Association who were terribly affected by the attack of the hoodlums who seized the opportunity of the New Year celebrations to wreck havoc on peace-loving worshippers - both Muslims and Christians.

While commending the Kwara State Police Command Command for swinging into action immediately to curb the activities of the hoodlums, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria condemn in unequivocal terms the Press Conference organised by CAN Kwara State Branch yesterday where the Association wrongly stated that the Christians were attacked by the Muslims.

In his briefing to the Press yesterday, Prof. Timothy Opoola the CAN Leader, mischievously attacked the Muslims claiming that Christians were attacked in their places of worship and that their female worshippers were raped! This is absolutely fallacious and totally untrue.

The Police that came to the rescue of members of the Quareeb Islamic Association that were similarly affected, has the detailed account of the incident in which several members of the Quareeb Group were injured when the hoodlums threw some explosive devices at them in their midnight Tahajud Prayers. It was the police rescue team that took several injured Muslims to the General Hospital Ilorin when the incident occurred.

It is on this basis that we call on Religious Leaders to stop fanning embers of religious hatred, disunity and confusion as exhibited by Kwara CAN. What happened was an insult and assault to both religious groups, the responsible action that should have been taken was for both CAN and Quareeb Leaders to jointly address a Press Conference to condemn the mayhem, commend the Police and to call on the State Government to firm-up arrangements of tight security during all festivals so as to protect innocent worshippers from irresponsible elements and miscreants.

What Kwara CAN did is, to say the least unpatriotic, irresponsible and condemnable. We should unite in fighting crimes instead of playing to the gallery and embarking on unholy blackmail of other religious adherents. In a mayhem that affected both sides that have been co-habiting peacefully, one should not 'jump-up sporadically' to wrongly accuse the other as the CAN has done... That is what is called mischief and CAN must stand clear of it.

We admonish our colleagues in the Media to exercise restraint by refraining to publish or report falsehood as may be exhibited by anyone or Group, no matter how big or famous.

We condemn outrightly THE PUNCH Newspaper of today Wednesday 3rd January 2018 in which it reports in its front-page banner headline: 'KWARA MAYHEM: CAN ACCUSES MUSLIMS OF ATTACKING, RAPING CHRISTIANS' with the main story on page 4. This is irresponsible journalism as the reporter himself knew very well that the information passed to him was not true. The reporter had benefitted from the credible Press Briefing of the Kwara State CP Lawal Ado, who gave a detailed factual account of what happened to the Press. Instead of descending so low to amplify the jaundiced, parochial and highly sentimental CAN's false report, he should have used his rational judgement to stand by the truth and report the truth only...His report, therefore, is unfortunate and irresponsible.

We wish to state that Muslims all over the world are law-abiding and would continue to uphold the teaching of the Holy Qur'an on freedom of worship and good neighbourliness to all. For example, the area in which the incident occurred ( Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin) is a place inhabiting both indigenes and non-indigenes who have been co-habiting peacefully with about 5 churches and several Mosques located there, where no attack of Christians was ever witnessed in spite of its being in the heart of the Islamic City of Ilorin.

We reiterate our objection to carnival events in Ilorin for whatever festival. The incident that occurred has further vindicated us that irresponsible elements gather to organise carnivals as they use it to perpetrate crimes.

We urgently call on the Police to quickly prosecute those arrested while the trial must be speedily concluded and the guilty punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, FCIPM
National Co-ordinator,
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG)

3rd January, 2017
15th R/Thani, 1439

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Sanusi Abubakar     Issa Manzuma     AGM Professional Services     Trader Moni     Musbau A. Akanji     Jumoke F. Ajao     Shettima Of Ilorin     Paul Odama     Patigi Regatta     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Kisra     Lawan     Guber Aspirant     Funmilayo Mohammed     Taiwo Joseph     Clara Nwachukwu     Justina Oha     David Adesina     Olatunde Michaels     Kolade Solagberu     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Kwara State Governor     Fatimat Saliu     Sola Saraki University     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Abubakar Lah     Saheed Alakoso     Jawondo     Oba Of Jebba     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     NITDA     Just Event Online     Nurudeen Mohammed     Ekiti     Binta Abubakar Mora     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Fulani     Abegunde Goke     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Emir Of Shonga     Yoruba     Saka Aleshinloye     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Lithium Deposit     Ahmad Ali     Kumbi Titiloye     High Court     Imam Gambari     07039448763     National Party Of Nigeria     Gobir     Oke-Oyi     Yusuf Abdulraheem     COVID     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Igbomina     Kwara State Government     IPSAS     Sunset Workers     Musa Aibinu     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Agbarere     Benin Republic     Simeon Sule Ajibola     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     SAPZ Project     Code Of Conduct     Muhammed Danjuma     Najim Yaasin     Kwara South     Shade Omoniyi     Kwara 2023     Ilofa     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Alaaya    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Olomu     Al-Hikmah Radio     Sabitiyu Grillo     Onilu     Ado Ibrahim     Bank Of Industry     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Kulende-UITH     Oluwole Dupe     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Idi-Ape     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Sebastine Obasi     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Share/Tsaragi     Basit Olatunji     Riskat Opakunle     Kwara Basketball Association     Convocation Ceremonies     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Oniwa     Kwara Pdp     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     James Ayeni     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Lotus Bank     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Obuh     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Ijagbo Health Centre     Bibire Ajape     KWSUED     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Balogun Fulani     JSSCE     Gamji Members Association     Kale Belgore     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Principal Private Secretary     Funmilayo Oniwa     Oke-Odo     Modibo Kawu     Kisira     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Kunle Suleiman     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Olabode George Towoju     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Shao     Aminu Adisa Logun     Government High School Adeta     SWAN     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Musbau A. Akanji     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Saba Jibril     Fola Consultant     Alagbado     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Local Government Pension Board     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Old Oyo     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Hauwa Nuru     Usman Alkali Baba     Ahmed \'Lateef     Dumagi     Belgore     Tsaragi     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Awodun