Kwara Ulama condemns ritual killing, demands justice for slain student
Islamic spiritual leaders in Kwara State, under the aegis of the Kwara State Council of Ulama, on Tuesday, urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation on the alleged murder of a final year female student of Kwara State College of Education, Miss Hafsoh Lawal.
The council, at a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin, condemned Hafsoh’s murder by one Abdulrahman Bello, believed to be an Islamic cleric for ritual purposes.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the secretary and retired Grand Khadi of the state Shari’a Court of Appeal, Justice Solihu Mohammed, maintained that the Islam religion forbids the killing of human beings for any purpose.
The council, led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammad Salihu, appealed to the state police command to be thorough in its investigations.
“As a council, we are interested in the course of justice for Hafsoh and her family.
“While we thank the Kwara State Police Command for the efforts so far, our appeal is for the command to be thorough with its investigations,” Justice Mohammed (retd.) said.
The council said anyone found culpable in the criminal act should be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The council condemns the murder of Miss Hafsoh Lawal by Abdulrahman Bello for ritual purposes.
“Our religion forbids the killing of another soul which is a grave crime in the sight of our Creator.
“For a young lady who was full of life to be cut down in her youth, her killer has definitely committed an unpardonable offence against Allah who warned us to be righteous at all times.
“We commiserate with the family of Hafsoh, which has been thrown into mourning due to the ungodly act of Abdulrahman. In this moment of grief, it is only Allah who can console the family,” Justice Mohammed said.
The Ulama, who expressed interest in following the course of justice for Hafsoh and her family, added that “on our part, we will not relent in assisting the security
agencies in getting to the root of the matter.”
The people also called on Nigerians to avoid profiling any community for the sinful acts of a few individuals.
“Ilorin and indeed, Kwara State, is not home for ritualists. We are known for our Islamic culture, of which ritualism is not a part.
“We call on all Nigerians to avoid profiling any community for the sinful acts of a few in our midst.
“Ritual acts are offensive to all known religions. We must all rise up and be counted in the war against it,” the council said.
Speaking on what the council had done to check the excesses of Imams who reportedly committed infringement in the state, Mohammad said “The council has recently closed down a mosque that committed an offence while another one was closed down for disturbing the peace of the community.”
The group said it planned to organise a sensitisation programme for young Islamic clerics on the best ways to carry out their spiritual activities.
The Ulama commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for maintaining peace in the state, saying that growth and development could not be attained in the absence of peace.
