The secretary of the Obatala devotees Aare Oba Oladotun Hassan disclosed this in a press statement issued to newsmen on Sunday.
The statement reads: "COMPLAINT AGAINST CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO SERIAL MOB ATTACKS OF ISOORO TRADITIONAL CHIEFS AND OBATALA DEVOTEES, BURNING DOWN OF OWA ILARE SHRINE, ROAD 7, MASS DESTRUCTIONS OF THE PALACE OF THE OONI OF IFE AND SEVERAL OTHER PROPERTIES, THREATENING VIOLENT CONDUCTS, ATTEMPTED MURDER, TERRORISM, ASSAULT, INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENTS, THREATS TO PUBLIC LIVE, DISTURBANCE AND CONDUCT WHICH HAS CAUSED BREACH OF PEACE BY ABDUL-LATEEF ADEDIRAN, CHIEF IMAM OF ODIOMO MOSQUE, ILARE, ILE-IFE AND THOUSANDS OF UNKNOWN DREADED SECTS MEMBERS.
"By the authority of His Divine Grace, Oba Isooro Olaolu Okanlawon Dada, Obalesun Obatala Agbaye we want to alert and condemn the Islamic violent religious war machinations orchestrated against victims and members of Obatala Agbaye Temple, Ile-Ife, we are want to state unequivocally all facts relating to the continuous provocative criminal conducts committed by Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Adediran Chief Imam of Odiomo Mosque, Ilare, Ile-Ife and their dreaded Sect members and others, precipitating our urgent request for 24/7 joint Police and DSS(Overt and Covert Operations) protection of innocent lives and properties via continuous security survellance particularly within and around Ile-Ife.
"His Divine Grace, Oba Isooro Olaolu Okanlawon Dada, Obalesun Obatala Agbaye alongside other victims and members of Obatala Agbaye Temple in Ile-Ife on whose behalf we make this urgent clarion call to the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, IGP, DSS and Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command and well meaning Nigerians for a swift intervention and action, while demanding onward Independent due diligent and fair investigation, harmonization of All Pending Related Matters and prosecution accordingly of the aforementioned cohorts.
"We are aghast and surprised based on all available evidence and facts relating to the criminal atrocities perpetrated from 30th March to 1st April, 2023 by Abdul-Lateef Adediran, Chief Imam of Odiomo Mosque, Ile-Ife alongside thousands of Islamic sects members, wherein they intentionally and ferociously used stones and other dangerous weapons to attack the Oro Obatala devotees at the Owa Ilare Shrine in Ile-Ife during the procession Oro prayers and spiritual fortifications, after advance prior public notice and paid media public announcement via radio and traditional town criers to caution and warned all residents to avoid and averts the special prayers spiritualism meant for the atonement of Ile-Ife and Yoruba Land respectively.
"Most regrettably this Islamic dreaded terrorists attacked the traditionalists during the pendency of the Oro prayers, only for the group to start shouting "Allauakibir Lailah" similar to that of Boko Haram sects , wherein innocent Obatala devotees were attacked with dangerous weapons and matcheted, it took the vigilante's intervention to defend and escape our Obatala devotees from being killed, as
currently shown in a widely circulating videos on socially media.
"This heinous dastardly acts displaying most dangerous mob attacks and stoning of the sacred palace of the Ooni of Ife with petals and stones by over 5,000 Islamic terrorists sect members of Odiomo Mosque and other various groups is a big taboo, most ridiculous, demeaning, treasonable felony and capable of inciting unprecedented violent reprisals from real Omoluabi YORUBAS and Olorisha devotees across the whole of Ile-Ife and spread like wild fire to other parts of Yoruba Land.
"We hereby demand for the independent and conscientious thorough background investigation on the aforementioned serial criminal activities bordering on acts of terrorism, threatening violence, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, excessive and reckless abuse of privileges and rights as Muslims, wherein so many innocent Nigerians are victims of their nafarious criminal activities are under deep fears of impending loom.
"Regrettably, perpetrated of this evil acts are now hellbent to pervert further criminal activities, while their co-accomplices remained unrepentant to further carry out their wicked atrocities and committed arson, in which the Islamic sects have started burning down the ancient age long Owa Ilare Shrine, in gross violation of our Obatala and all Olorisha devotees fundamental rights, traditional practice and statutory laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, precipitating our demand to the Governor of Osun State to carry out urgent action for an onward harmonization of all pending related matters, and ensure due diligent investigation by the enforcement agency and onward prosecution at a court of competent jurisdiction respectively.
"On this premise, we anticipate Senator Ademola Adeleke's ordering of an independent, swift and fair investigation, while hoping on the joint Police and DSS investigating team to harmonize their investigation accordingly.
"Our fundamental appeal is done in due recognition of Governor's responsive call to duty.
"We reiterate our position that thousands of innocent victims have suffered lots of daily ill-treatments, harassments and intimidation in the hands of the Islamic sects, regrettably causing the peace loving people of Ile-Ife, the source unbearable emotional trauma, monumental agony and aggravated economic loss.
"We further anticipate the IGP and Osun State Commissioner of Police onward investigation respectively.
"This dreaded terrorists act of provocation of the Obatala devotees most inhuman, wicked, most corrupt, highly demeaning and unlawful to say the least.
"We further reiterate, if nothing urgent is done to rescue the situation, this Islamic sects and we are aware of more incursion from Oshogbo, Akure, Iwo, Ilorin and other parts of Nigeria are ready to wreck further monumental havocs by causing daily public disturbance, sponsored attacks, media misrepresentation of facts fomenting terrorism acts threatening violent conducts.
"Obatala Agbaye's spirituality sacredness remains untainted hard-earned image and our integrity of Kabiyesi Eruwadaji Oba Isooro Olaolu Okanlawon Dada, Obalesun Obatala Agbaye as the spiritual head of the Obatala Agbaye Temple and devotees in Ile-Ife and globally, what a double jeopardy.
EXTREMELY URGENT:
"Our request is that we appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to order IGP to conduct detailed investigation in this matter, alongside Senator Ademola Adeleke should please direct a Special Commission of Inquiry to conduct independent and fair investigation of all our complaints and HARMONIZE all the facts and evidence for proper investigation, award compensations to victims, while looking forward to assurance of relative peace in Ile-Ife, and to avoid injustice and ensure possible conclusion of all action on the criminal aspects of the matter, so that the erring suspects would be charged to court in due time soon.
"We shall appreciate accelerated action respectively."
Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere.
For and By the Authority of Obalesun Obatala Agbaye: Obatala Agbaye Temple, Igbo Tapa, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Signed:
Aare Oba Oladotun Hassan, Esq.
Oba Aala Aje Obatala Agbaye and Traditional Secretary, Obatala Agbaye Temple, Ile-Ife.
dotunhassan@yahoo.com
2nd April, 2023.
