Worshipers were attacked while preparing to transit into new year, according to idealolive, scores of people were on Monday injured after an attack on both Christian and Muslim worship centres allegedly by youths from the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

While the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said three people were injured, the Special Adviser on Security to the Kwara State Governor, Amusa Bello, said no fewer than 25 people were injured. There was, however, no report of any death.

Our correspondent gathered that the youths were prevented by the community leaders in the area from embarking on what they termed, ‘New Year carnival,’ around 2am for fear of the carnival turning into a security threat, owing to previous experiences.

Sources said the youths resorted to throwing bangers indiscriminately at all gatherings in the vicinity, including religious gatherings celebrating the New Year.

It was gathered that churches in the area and a Muslim group, called Quareeb, were attacked.

Property belonging to the churches and the United Secondary School in Taiwo Isale were also damaged.

A statue of Mary was burnt, while another was smashed at the St, Joseph Catholic Church, Taiwo Isale. Some windows and other property of the church, as well as a car were vandalized.

The hoodlums also destroyed property at the Methodist Church, Taiwo Isale.

Also, the building where some Muslims were holding a session was vandalized, while some of the faithful were injured.

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed condemned the attack. Ahmed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, described the attack as criminal, satanic and alien to the state.

He commended people who protected some of the victims regardless of their religious inclination.

He also called on security agencies to investigate the incident and unravel the perpetrators of the “unholy act” with a view to bringing them to book.

Ahmed said, “Peace is sine qua non for the development of any society and the government will not tolerate any act capable of breaching the peace, unity and tranquility of the state.”

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, also condemned the attack.

Ahmad in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, AbdulRahman Sanni, called for calm.

According to him, the attack was not religious, but was carried out by hoodlums, who must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said peace was pivotal to the socio-economic transformation of the state and commended the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ado Lawan, for sending police officers and urged him to commence full-scale investigations into the incident.

He stated that Kwara State would not compromise on sustaining peaceful coexistence of the residents.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.

Okasanmi said, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to assure the people of Kwara State of its capacity to deal decisively with anybody arrested for being a part of the breakdown of law and order that was witnessed in the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin.

“At about 2am of today (Monday), some youths were prevented from carrying out what was termed New Year carnival and in protest to the denial, the youths resorted to throwing bangers indiscriminately at all gatherings in the vicinity, including religious gatherings celebrating the New Year. Three persons were injured in the resulting stampede.

“The Catholic, Methodist churches and other churches in the area, as well as a Muslim group, Quareeb, were attacked.

“It is important to note, that the attack has no religious undertone. It is simply an unlawful act by the disgruntled youths of the area, as both the Christian and Muslim gatherings in the area were attacked.

“Ten suspects have been arrested, while the injured had been taken to hospitals.  Investigation into the matter has commenced.”

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/read-how-worshipers-were-attacked-on-new-year-eve-in-ilorin/