ISESE COMMUNITY VISITS SCENE OF ARSON ATTACK IN ILORIN, SEEKS POLICE ACTION

By Ademola Adekusibe
January 3, 2025

Members of the Iṣẹ̀ṣe community on Monday visited the site of a house allegedly set ablaze by members of a Muslim community in Ilorin, Kwara State, following reported threats against a female traditional religion practitioner.

The victim, a lawful property owner and Iṣẹ̀ṣe adherent, said she had received direct threats in November 2025 warning her to abandon her religious practice or face violent consequences. She said the threats were not taken seriously at the time but were later carried out in January 2026 when her house was destroyed by fire.

According to her, the incident was not accidental but a deliberate act of arson linked to earlier warnings issued against her presence in the community due to her religious beliefs.

She called on the Nigeria Police Force and media organizations in Kwara State to urgently investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The victim further alleged that earlier on the same day, the head of the community visited her alongside individuals she described as suspected fake police officers, proposing that the matter be “resolved amicably.” She expressed concern that the visit was an attempt to suppress the case as public attention grows on social media.

She claimed there were indications that those involved were attempting to use connections within the police system to silence the matter and prevent wider scrutiny.

Appealing for support, she called on the public, civil society organizations, religious bodies, and human-rights groups to amplify the case, stressing that the incident raises broader concerns about religious intolerance and the safety of Iṣẹ̀ṣe practitioners in Nigeria.

She insisted that justice must be served, warning that silence and inaction could encourage further attacks.