Muslim traders in Ile-Ife, under the platform of the Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN), have accused some men allegedly representing the Ooni’s Palace of extortion, harassment, and unlawful seizure of goods over their refusal to pay levies connected to the Olojo Festival.

In a press release issued on Saturday, September 20, 2025, and signed by APTAN’s Coordinator, Comrade Adegoke Saidi, Secretary, Comrade Monsur Jimoh, and Welfare Officer, Comrade Banjo Isiaq, the group narrated how its members were attacked at the Ojatuntun Otisese Weekly Market on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

According to the statement, three men identified as Mr. Efunwole Kola, Mr. Sogo Olagbaju, and Mr. Hezekiah Agunbiade stormed the market and confiscated traders’ goods, including clothing and vegetable oil, because they declined to contribute to the Olojo Festival.

APTAN said the incident was not isolated, but part of a five-year pattern of oppression, where Muslim members are compelled to pay for traditional religious practices despite their faith prohibiting such contributions.

Quoting Qur’an 6:162 and 5:2, the association stressed that Muslims cannot lawfully partake in or sponsor activities rooted in traditional religion. It also referenced Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and Section 44(1), which protects citizens from unlawful seizure of property.

The association, however, maintained that it holds the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in the highest esteem, insisting that the monarch may not be aware of the actions allegedly being perpetrated by certain palace men and the Babaloja of Odo-Ogbe, Chief Jimoh Olaoluwa Odeyemi.

“We are not rebels; we are contributors to the development of Ile-Ife. But our members are constantly attacked and stripped of their goods simply because they refuse to compromise their faith,” the group declared.

APTAN highlighted its role in community development, including the introduction of tricycles through ALBARAKAH Microfinance Bank, artisan training, and an upcoming free medical caravan on October 26, 2025.

The association has now called on the Ooni to urgently intervene, and appealed to the Sultan of Sokoto, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) to protect the rights of its members.

“Our cry is simple: stop the harassment, return the seized goods, and respect our right to practice Islam without coercion,” the statement concluded.