A group of Muslim worshippers recently stormed a worship center in Alalubosa, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, where both Christian and Islamic services are held. The group claimed to be acting on the instruction of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
According to a video that surfaced on Facebook, the leader of the group, referred to as "Olojatuntun", declared that the practice of holding both Christian and Islamic services in the same place is an anomaly that will not be tolerated. He stated, "We are here because of the report that the mosque in Alubosa, Ilorin, where Christians, Muslims, and even traditionalists worship.
We observe this practice which should not happen in this town."
The group's leader further stated that they were not there to fight but to ensure that the practice is stopped. He said, "What we want in the name of the Emir is that the practice must not happen again. It is not an advice; if they must hold Christian service there, they can, but not mix things up."
The owner of the worship center, Iya Meta Lokan, explained that she is a devoted Muslim but was called by God to teach and preach to both Muslims and Christians. She said, "When I was called by God, I was told to teach following the Christian way. I was told to preach to both Muslims and Christians. I have been on the mountain; when Muslims come, we pray likewise for Christians."
Iya Meta Lokan added that focusing only on Islam would be difficult for her as it would go against her "spiritual call." She said, "I can't just focus on Islam; that will be against my spiritual call."
The incident is not the first of its kind in Ilorin. In 2023, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Malcolm Omirhobo, sued the Emir of Ilorin for allegedly stopping traditional religious worshippers from holding their Isese festival in Ilorin. Omirhobo, who described himself as an Olokun worshipper, asked the court to declare that the alleged action of the Emir was an affront to the constitutional rights to "freedom of dignity of the human person, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly."
In July 2023, a Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, went to the house of a traditional religion priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun Omolara Olatunji, an Osun devotee, to warn her against going ahead with her planned Isese festival in Ilorin. The priestess had earlier reportedly released fliers announcing a three-day traditional event aimed at celebrating certain Yoruba deities. But the Muslim group described the Isese festival as idolatry and said they recalled that the Emir of Ilorin had made a public declaration against such events.
The recent incident has sparked concerns about religious tolerance and freedom of worship in the community.
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