An X user, BennyLee, with the handle #itsbennylee, has raised the alarm over religious intolerance in Ilorin, Kwara State, sharing a video on Friday that appears to show acclaimed Islamic clerics confronting a traditional worshipper.

According to the video and accompanying claims, the confrontation was provoked by the worshipper’s alleged practice of indigenous religions, including Ojubo Esu and Sango (shrines).

In the footage which the poster said was kept from an event which took place 27 weeks ago, the clerics in an area close to Oja Tuntun assert that “Ilorin has no other religion but Islam” and describe the city as an Islamic city.

Many who reacted to the video on X and Facebook also pointed out that such a declaration may violate Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which clearly states that “Nigeria shall not adopt any religion as a state religion.”

“Is Ilorin still operating fully under Nigerian constitutional law? – Or is it being run as a de facto Sharia state? – Why is religious intolerance and insecurity being allowed to grow unchecked in Kwara State?” the man who posted the video asked.

The incident has sparked calls for accountability, with a focus on protecting religious freedom as a constitutional right.

BennyLee and many other netizens who reacted to the video further stated, “Nigerians deserve answers. Religious freedom is a constitutional right, not a privilege. Justice must prevail.”

Authorities in Kwara State have yet to comment on the video or the claims, as questions about governance and the protection of minority religious practices continue to mount.

Last Friday, the same person raised the alarm over an arson case in Ilorin. A traditional worshipper alleged that her neighbours set her house on fire after repeated threats over her religious beliefs.

The Kwara State Police Command, however, confirmed on Saturday the arrest of three suspects in connection with the suspected arson attack on the residential building in Ilorin, the state capital. The arrest followed allegations that the fire was linked to religious differences.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated that the command had commenced a full investigation into the fire incident, which occurred in the Isale Koko area of Ilorin. (The PUNCH)

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