The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the recent spate of arrests of Muslim youths in Ogbomoso as arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious.
In a statement on Tuesday, “While pointing accusing finger at the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the group called on the Oyo State Police Command to stop the ugly trend and remain neutral.
MURIC’s statement added that “The Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum has cried out over the current spate of arrests of its members. Four Muslim youths were arrested and detained last week by the police.
“Kasimu Owolabi was arrested in Ogbomoso on Monday 11th November, 2024. He was taken to Eleiyele, Ibadan where he spent two nights. His release was secured on Wednesday, 13th November, 2024.
“On the same day, i.e. Wednesday, 13th November, 2024, another Ogbomoso Muslim youth, Adebisi Muritala, was arrested and moved to Ibadan where he also passed the night.
“Still not satisfied, the police again arrested two other Muslim youths, namely, Abdulsalam Abdullahi and Mustapha AbdulRahman, that same week.
“We are constrained to bring this disturbing trend to the attention of the Nigerian public. Muslim youths in Ogbomoso can no longer sleep at home. Neither can they walk the streets freely. Their attendance in the mosque to worship has been equally endangered as any of them can be picked up at any time.
*“MURIC strongly condemns this spate of arrests. It is arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious. It is a barbaric attack on freedom of speech, a brutal assault on freedom of movement and a gross violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslim youths.*
“But there is no smoke without fire. At least the last two detainees were allegedly picked up for leaking a petition reportedly authored from the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso. It was also alleged that the first detainee, Kasimu Owolabi, was arrested for ‘insulting’ the Soun during a protest held by Ogbomoso Muslims against the monarch. It is now obvious that Soun’s reign of terror is already in full motion.
“The allegations levelled against the Muslim youths run counter to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 39 of the constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression by stipulating as follows: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.
“Arbitrary arrest is an open contravention of Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says inter alia, ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.’
“By extension, Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s rights lay strong emphasis on the right of citizens of all countries to move freely within their borders.
“The question is being asked, ‘Why are Ogbomoso Muslim youths being hounded right, left and center?’ Well, the witch cried yesterday, the child died today, do we have to go far looking for the child’s killer? We do not have to consult any oracle to find out who is behind the spate of arrests.
*“We charge the Oyo State Police Command to remain neutral. The command must discharge its duties with utmost finesse. Hounding Muslim youths merely for expressing dissent is unprofessional, unethical and undignifying for any police force that seeks and cherishes global standard behaviour. Oyo State Police Command must stop this wave of intimidation and suppression.*
“One-time British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who ruled from May 1937 to May 1940 spoke of five evils: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. Those five evils have been fully manifested in Ogbomoso under a pastor turned totalitarian traditional ruler. The police have no business sharpening his weapon of tyranny. It is illegal to obey unlawful instruction.
“The danger here is that the king is visiting his tools of oppression on the Muslims of the ancient town. Something is terribly wrong if a pastor becomes king and starts targeting Muslim land for conversion to what it was not intended for and orchestrating the mass arrest of Muslims.
“MURIC calls for the enforcement of fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslims with immediate effect. We warn that Nigerian Muslims will not stand akimbo while the right to personal liberty of Ogbomoso Muslims in particular and that of any other Muslim anywhere in this country is compromised. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
