STOP FORCING IFE MUSLIMS TO PAY ISESE LEVIES – MURIC

22^nd September, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP FORCING IFE MUSLIMS TO PAY ISESE LEVIES – MURIC  

An appeal has gone to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to stop his palace agents from forcing Muslims in Ile Ife markets to pay levies illegally imposed for the celebration of Olojo, a traditional festival. Making the appeal on Monday, 22^nd September, 2025 was the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has received a report of economic extortion, religious persecution, harassment, intimidation and coercion spanning more than five years forwarded by a trade union under the aegis of Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN), Ile-Ife branch, Osun State.

“APTAN has alleged that agents of the palace of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, invaded their stalls at Oja Tuntun Otisese Weekly Market on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 to forcefully demand levies imposed for the celebration of Olojo, a traditional festival celebrated annually in Ile-Ife.

“During the invasion, precious goods were seized in the shops of Muslim traders who refused to pay illegal Olojo levies. For example, a monique with cloth was seized in Mrs. Aisha Ogundare’s shop, Mrs. Balikis Elureni lost 2.5 liters of vegetable oil while another 5 liters of vegetable oil was ‘commandeered’  in the shop of Mrs. Akande Moridiyah.  Several other traders also suffered painful losses in the hands of the invaders who allegedly came from the palace.

“APTAN’s statement was signed by its Ife branch Coordinator, Comrade Adegoke Saidi, Comrade Monsur Jimoh and Comrade Banjo Isiaq, Secretary and Welfare Officer respectively.

“MURIC strongly condemns this invasion and the seizures. Apart from being illegal and unlawful, it is daylight robbery. It is also a deliberate attempt to impoverish poor Muslim traders who are struggling to survive in these hard times. It is wicked, inhuman and insensitive.

“Neville Chamberlain, former British Prime Minister from May 1937 to May 1940, once identified five evils: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. These are signs of evil that have all manifested here against innocent Muslim petty traders.

“This phenomenon has exposed the intolerance of Isese practioners as they target poor Muslim petty traders for economic extortion, religious persecution, harassment, intimidation and coercion. In saner climes, only the adherents of a particular religion should pay levies imposed by the religious leaders. But in Ile Ife, innocent Muslim traders are being forcefully taxed for a traditional festival.

“Now, to forcefully collect levies for a traditional festival from Muslims and to go as far as seizing goods in the shops of Muslims for refusing to pay constitutes an encroachment on Allah-given fundamental human rights of such Muslims.

“This invasion vehemently articulates what awaits Muslims in a Yoruba Republic where Isese is most likely to be treated like a state religion while other faiths are relegated to the background. Isese priests will call the shots while adherents of other religions will be treated like slaves. The handwriting is on the wall.

“These are not mere conjectures. Muslims were forcefully initiated into Awo Opa Cult in Ikorodu in 2022 and heaven did not fall (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/forceful-initiation-of-muslims-into-awo-opa-cult-in-lagos-are-traditionalists-above-the-law-opinion/).

“It is an open secret that traditionalists in the South West impose curfew on whole cities at their whims and caprices and nobody has ever stopped them. We have more than enough evidence to show how they attack Imams and Muslim worshippers inside mosques in different Yoruba towns at will.

“MURIC appeals to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II to call his palace agents to order. Although they are most likely acting on their own, the demonstration of incontestable royal will to assert authority, discipline, law and order by his Imperial Majesty will return confidence among Muslim petty traders.

“We demand justice for the oppressed Muslim petty traders. The suspects have been identified as Mr. Efunwole Kola, Mr. Sogo Olagbaju and Mr. Hezekiah Agunbiade. These extortionists must be made to return the seized goods. Ooni could not have sent them. Kabiyesi is a man of peace and justice. The parasites must be brought to book to clear Ooni’s good name.”

#IleIfeMarketExtortion

#JusticeForMuslimTraders

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).