Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), has condemned the attack on Catholic seminarian, Lawrence Ezeugwu, by
masquerades in Nsukka, Enugu.
The Catholic priest last week was beaten to coma by a group
of masquerades popularly called Oriokpa who blocked the road at Ugwuoyia,
Nsukka.
MURIC lamented what it called “wanton exhibition of
religious extremism by traditionalists. It is crude, barbaric and symptomatic
of thuggery and hooliganism”
The Muslim group, in the statement, drew the attention of
the Federal Government to the excesses of traditionalists particularly in
Southern Nigeria.
“Even in the South West, the Oro cult worshippers behave as
if they are above the law. Traditionalists impose illegal curfew without being
challenged by the authorities.
“A good example is the curfew imposed by Oro cultists in
Ikorodu, Lagos State, during the last Ramadan season which nearly caused a
violent clash between Muslims and traditionalists.
“It is well known that Muslims shuttle between the mosques
and their homes day and night during Ramadan. The imposition of a curfew during
such a period was not only illegal but also provocative.
“Although the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria Section 38 (i) & (ii) guarantees freedom of religion thereby
empowering traditionalists to freely practice their faith, it does not allow
one group to laud it over another.
“The right of traditionalists to religious freedom stops
where it begins to encroach on others’ rights and vice versa.
“MURIC therefore appeals to the Inspector General of Police
(IG) to ensure that the masquerades who attacked the Catholic priest are duly
punished. State and local governments must also ban illegal proclamation of
curfews by cultists.
“Anything short of these will be an invitation to chaos as
citizens who are conscious of their right to freedom of movement as stipulated
in Section 41 (i) of the 1999 Constitution may be tempted to challenge any
illegal imposition of curfew and defend themselves”.
