Some Oro adherents have been accused of invading a mosque in the Ilare area of Osun State, leaving the chief imam of the mosque, Abdul-Lateef Adediran and five other worshippers injured.
This attack was reportedly carried out on Thursday when some Muslim faithful gathered in the said mosque to observe the 4pm prayers.
It was gathered that the chief imam was badly injured in the face and some other worshippers were stabbed during the attack.
Following the attack, members of the Muslim community in Ile-Ife area of the state took to the streets on Friday to protest the invasion.
According to Kareem, an eyewitness, he said the mosque was invaded by the Oro worshippers during the time some of the Muslims were performing ablution.
He said, “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.
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“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.”
During the Friday protest, the protesters, who moved through major streets in the town, visited the palace of the Ooni of Ife, but the royal father was not available.
The protesters insisted that the only way to quench the fire of violence brewing is to arrest the attackers of the mosque.
The worshippers were attacked in November last year according to one of the protesters, Tajudeen Adesiyan, who told journalists that a petition had been written to the police.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, assured that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident, while adding that normalcy had returned to the community.
The spokesperson for the Ooni, Moses Olafare, said the Ife traditional council was on top of the matter.
“The leadership of the Muslim community in Ife is also involved in the peace meeting currently ongoing. Muslims, traditionalists and Christians living in the town have been cohabitating in peace for centuries.
“Baba Ooni is calling on all those involved to allow peace to reign. Security agents, leaders of the traditionalists and the leadership of the Muslim community are meeting to address the issue,” Olafare added.