Oyo: We are investigating alleged attack on Muslims by soldiers, pastor – Police

The Oyo State Police Command has declared that it has commenced an investigation into the alleged attack on some Muslims by soldiers and a pastor in Iseyin.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Adewale Osifeso, made this declaration via a short statement made available to Newspot on Sunday.

Newspot learned that Mr. Abdulazeez Suleiman and his wives were wounded, while other Muslims sustained injuries on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

It was reported that a pastor and some men in Army uniform attacked the victims while slaughtering their cow for the Eid Adha festival in front of their house at the barracks area in Iseyin.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in a statement made available to Newspot through its Oyo State branch Ambassador, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, advised the security operatives to arrest the suspects without further delay.

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“MURIC Oyo State chapter has watched with great shock and dismay the viral video trending on social media, containing dastardly acts of harassment and humiliation perpetrated by a pastor and seventeen soldiers on the personality of Mr. Suleiman AbdulAzeez during the sacrificial animal ritual for Eid Adha celebration in his compound on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

“MURIC confirmed that the suspect, Damilola Stephen a.k.a. ‘Recruit Soldier’, and seventeen other soldiers are involved. The group further noted that Recruit Soldier is the son of Pastor Busari Stephen, who was earlier reported to the police by the community for noise pollution and environmental disturbance.

“The Islamic human rights organization called for the arrest and prosecution of Pastor Busari Stephen and his son, Damilola Stephen, and warned that the case must not be swept under the carpet. MURIC calls on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police for the immediate arrest of the culprits, emphasizing that justice must not only be done in this case but must be seen to have been done.”

In response to the allegations, the police stated that the investigation has commenced.

Osifeso, in reaction to Newspot’s inquiry, said, “Investigation is ongoing.”