Muslim Clerics Threaten to Stone Osun Priestess, Worshippers at River in Ilorin

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJuly 21, 2023

2 minutes read

A shocking video has surfaced online showing Muslim clerics harassing and threatening traditional worshippers in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

The video, which was posted on Facebook by Alfa Aribidesi At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’wah, shows a group of women performing some traditional rites at the bank of a river. The women are believed to be followers of Osun, the Yoruba goddess of water and fertility.

However, their peaceful ceremony is interrupted by the clerics who order them to leave the river and stop their sacrifices. The clerics claim that Ilorin does not tolerate traditional religious practices and that they are ready to use violence to stop them.

One of the clerics can be heard saying:

“We warned you against these sacrifices. I have you on tape with your calabashes. You dare not drop the calabashes.”

One of the women, who identifies herself as an indigene of Ilorin, responds:

“Everything you are saying is cheap talk. I am an Indigene just like you.”

The cleric then charges towards the women, chanting a Muslim prayer and threatening to pelt them with stones. He says:

“Come out here because this is Ilorin and such is not allowed. Is this Osun? Leave! Leave! Leave now! Do you not hear me, leave or I’ll pelt you with stones.”

The women ignore his threats and continue with their rites.

This is not the first time that traditional worshippers have faced religious intolerance in Ilorin. A few weeks ago, Newsflash Nigeria reported that Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun Omolara, a priestess of Olokun, another Yoruba water deity, was also threatened by a Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, who tried to cancel a planned Isese festival in the state.

FAAC Distributes Record-High N907 Billion to FG, States and LGs in June

The Isese festival is an annual celebration of the Yoruba culture and spirituality that honours the ancestors and the deities. It is usually held in August or September across Yoruba land.

The Newsflash Nigeria reported that the Muslim group had written a letter to the Kwara State Government, asking it to ban the festival on the grounds that it was un-Islamic and could cause public disorder. The group also warned that it would mobilize its members to disrupt the festival if it was allowed to hold.

The priestess, however, vowed to go ahead with the festival despite the threats. She said:

“We are not afraid of them. We are going to celebrate our festival as planned. We have our rights to practice our religion. They cannot stop us.”

The Kwara State Government has not issued any official statement on the matter.

The video of the Muslim clerics attacking the traditional worshippers has sparked outrage and condemnation from many Nigerians who have called for respect for religious diversity and freedom in the country. Some have also questioned why the security agencies have not intervened to protect the traditional worshippers from harassment and violence.