BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
The Kwara State Police Command has invited Islamic clerics and traditional worshippers in Ilorin with a view to resolving the conflict between the two religions.
The force warned residents of the state with diverse religious beliefs to exercise restraint in expressing grievances whenever they arise, adding that those who circulate videos and making utterances capable of inciting violence would be arrested.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Okasanmi Ajayi, the riot act became necessary in view of a recent clash between some Islamic clerics and some traditional worshippers popularly called ‘Isese’ in Ilorin metropolis.
“There are lots of inciting videos circulating on different social media platforms from both religious bodies threatening fire and brimstone if one thing or the order was not done, bringing into doubt the belief that Kwara State is a state of harmony.
“In order to douse the tension, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, invited the two groups to a meeting where both parties were given the opportunity to air their grievances and a middle-of-the ground agreement was reached.
“Consequently, both parties were advised to maintain the peace while a lasting solution to the crisis was enabled.
“The CP also advised the parties to warn their followers posting inciting videos on social media platforms to desist forthwith, noting that Kwara State is a state of harmony, and as such, all hands must be on deck to ensure that every effort must be made to make the state remain so,” the statement read.
In a bid to further prevent violence among the affected religious adherents, the police said it has deployed teams of policemen to extensively patrol the city and arrest anyone found undermining the efforts of the security agencies to secure the state.
“Finally, the command wishes to emphasize that while the right to freedom of religion as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution is sacred, respect for the culture and tradition of the people in a particular community is also important,” Ajayi noted in the statement.
