The New Year’s eve disturbance is a strange phenomenon to be associated with Ilorin, the city hitherto known to be crisis free. Certainly not in the last several years and not for religious intolerance. This is why the state goes by the alias ‘State of harmony’ and “it’s good here’’. Reports that some religious groups on the popular lbrahim Taiwo Road were attacked by some yet-to-be named persons in the early hours of Monday during the New Year service is shocking.
Reacting to the incident, Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, described the dastardly attack as criminal, satanic and alien to the state. Governor Ahmed, who lauded those who made efforts to protect some of the victims regardless of their religious inclination, called on security agencies to immediately launch investigation into the incident and unravel the perpetrators of the unholy act with a view to bringing the culprits to book.
According to the governor, “peace is sine qua non for the development of any society and the government will not tolerate any act capable of breaching peace, unity and tranquility of the state”. The governor called on the people of the state to imbibe spirit of tolerance and harmonious relationship for sustenance of growth and economic development in the state. Governor Ahmed also called on parents and guardians to monitor their wards with a view to curtailing their likely excesses.
Also reacting, Speaker of the state house of Assembly, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir and the Chief Press Secretary to the State House of Assembly, AbdulRahman Sanni, expressed disgust over the attacks. Speaker Ahmad, however, called for calm, adding that the attack was not religiously motivated, but believed to have been carried out by some hoodlums.
“They must be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others. Peace is the pivot of socio-economic transformation of any society and one of the indices of development,” said the Speaker.
Further details revealed that the irate youths in the Taiwo area of Ilorin, while performing the annual youths (street) carnival on the eve of new year clashed with worshippers who usually throng worship centres to usher in the new year. During the melee, three persons sustained injuries while vehicles and other domestic properties were destroyed. However, the Kwara Police Command in a swift reaction on Monday claimed it had so far arrested ten persons in connection with the incident.
Governor Ahmed while condemning the action of the youths described it as criminal and ordered the police to launch manhunt to nab the perpetrators. Investigations revealed that some youths went against the counsel of their leaders, who had pleaded for the carnival not to proceed. They defied the directive and therefore went on rampage to celebrate the carnival, which led to the clash. Eye witness corroborated this account and stated that the Christians worshippers at Methodist and other churches in the area as well as Muslims faithful under the aegis of Quareeb Muslim Society that were having their new year eve at one of the Secondary schools at Taiwo were attacked by the youths.
In a statement by the state Police Command Public Relations, Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ajayi Okasanmi, he said, “It is important to note that the attack has no religious undertone. It is simply an unlawful act by the disgruntled youths of the area, on both the Christian and Muslim gatherings in the area”. He noted further that the state police command has commenced full investigations into the act, adding that anybody found culpable in the act, would face the full wrath of the law.
He therefore admonished the people of the state to continue to embark on their lawful assignment and assured that the police command would also continue to be alive to its responsibility in order to ensure full maintenance of law and order.
Once again this attack is unfortunate. This is not what Ilorin and Kwara state in general is known for. The people are very accommodating and are not normally drawn to acts like this, which could be considered as alien to the state. We commend the police for the arrests so far made and enjoin the state government to ensure that every person linked with the attack is made to face trial and subjected to full punishment for the offence if found guilty. What we want for Kwara is a free and prosperous state in 2018, not chaos and intolerance!
