… Preaches religious tolerance
JOSEPH OKWUOFU, Ibadan
A Business Mogul and South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has condemned the killing of a female food vendor simply identified as Amaye in Kasuwan-Garba town in Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State on Saturday evening over an alleged blasphemous remark against Prophet Muhammad.
Ajadi who called for justice for the deceased and the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the gruesome killing, said no religion preaches and tolerates violence and jungle justice.
He also called on the adherents of various religions in the country to preach and practice religious tolerance and ensure peaceful co-existence.
Ambassador Ajadi said Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi tribal country, urging adherents of different religions to tolerate each other.
It would be recalled that there was a report of a female food vendor who was burnt to death by a mob in Kasuwan-Garba town in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State after she was accused of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad.
Police condemned the killing, describing it as “jungle justice”, saying that an investigation was under way to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
Local media quoted eyewitnesses as saying a man jokingly proposed marriage to the vendor, and her response was considered blasphemous by some people in the area.
“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and she was set ablaze before a reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene,” Niger state Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said.
Ajadi in a statement on Monday condemned the killing saying no religion preaches and tolerates violence, saying he was particularly sad because at least two other people have been lynched over such accusations in the last three years, which shows that not enough is being done to prevent the killings that have targeted both Muslims and Christians.
Ambassador Ajadi called on the traditional and religious leaders to educate their followers on the need to tolerate the views of others and to avoid provocation that may lead to untimely death of healthy Nigerians.
According to the statement, “It is sad to hear about the burning to death of a female food vendor in Niger State who was accused of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad.
I think we should have passed over this kind of behavior in this Century.
“I want to implore the traditional and religious leaders to always talk to the adherents of their religions to always allow for peace.
Nigeria is a multi-religious state and none of our religions encourage killing and loss of lives through violence.
“We should allow civilisation. We should tolerate each other and allow peaceful co-existence.
I will also call on the National Orientation Agency, (NOA) to please sensitise the people on the need for tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
“I pray for the repose of the soul of the dead vendor and I plead with the security to maintain peace and prevent a reprisal attack and a reoccurrence of this kind of behaviour”.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
