Family, groups demand justice after attack by pastor, others

A resident of Iseyin, Oyo State, Mr Sulaimon AbdulAzeez, has pleaded for justice following the assault meted out on him, his veiled wives and other family members on Eid ul Adha day by soldiers hired by his neighbour, who is a pastor.

In a chat with Daily Trust, Mr Sulaimon lamented the impunity which Pastor Busari Stephen, who heads the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Imuse, Iseyin, enjoys despite the ongoing suffering inflicted on his family.

He added that the pastor who heads the church opposite his house had involved his son, a soldier named Damilola Stephen (aka recruit soldier), who led 17 other soldiers to unleash havoc on them for allegedly slaughtering a ram while facing their church.

Busari’s church was some 20 meters away from Sulaiman’s house even with a road separating them.

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Daily Trust reported that Busari and Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Imuse, Iseyin were sanctioned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) after bloody attacks which resulted in the hospitalisation of the man and some members of his household.

Sulaimon said he was severely beaten and wounded while his pregnant wife was also beaten and dragged to the church premises by soldiers hired by Busari. Similarly, his other wife’s head was smashed. He added that his son was taken away by the soldiers while his mother and wife’s brother were also beaten.

The old woman was reportedly manhandled by one of the soldiers while another soldier slit open, with a knife, the palms of Daud Abdulazeez, Sulaimon’s  brother.

While Apostle Sunday Ogundairo, CAN chairman in Iseyin Local Government Area, assured that the pastor had been sanctioned by CAN and was asked to relocate his church from the area, Sulaimon bemoaned the improper handling of the reported case.

He said, “The town authorities have taken over the case; they want to ensure peace.  We are still receiving treatment and I want peace too. I do not want the case to escalate yet; I want justice. The pastor came to evacuate his properties from the church two days ago. No church activity occurred here on Sunday but he is going about his business as usual. We reported the case at Iseyin Divisional Police headquarters but he has since been released by the police. My lawyer petitioned the IG, copied the High Court and the civil defence. I have heard nothing from the police. Only the civil defence people called me.

“The police have denied me my rights since the inception of the case with Pastor Busari. Sometime in December, his soldier-son came to assault me in this house. It was at midnight and I made a report to the police but he wasn’t arrested and they were silent on the issue. Either Christian or Muslim, all rights ought to be protected under the law, but the police have not been fair to me.”

According to reports, the crisis resulted from a series of misunderstandings between Sulaimon Abdulazeez and Pastor Busari over the noise that usually comes from the latter’s church during their late-night vigils.

The matter was reportedly looked into by the Aseyin of Iseyin, who ruled that Pastor Busari should abate the noise pollution coming from his church by any means possible. Sulaimon added that the Aseyin suggested the use of sound acoustics to prevent noise pollution but Busari claimed that he could not afford it.

Daily Trust contacted Pastor Busari but he refused to comment on the issue, saying his lawyer had instructed him not to say anything as the case was going to court. He simply said, “Did they say that I was the one who invited the soldiers? Anyways, I have nothing to say; my lawyer has told me to say nothing; the case is in court.”

However, the lawyer to Sulaimon, Barr Abdulwaheed A. Olowonjaye, during a chat with Daily Trust expressed optimism that the police authority would treat the matter promptly and expedite investigation so that justice can be delivered.

“It is left to the police to act fast; we have done all necessary documentation and reporting. On the other hand, we have information that there are moves to charge the pastor with lesser offences, so that he could get away with the crime. I, as the legal counsel to the assaulted family, and the complainants are not aware, and we expect the institution of criminal prosecution against all the parties involved in the attack. We want the police to file this case as early as possible because justice delayed is justice denied. To achieve this, we are following up with the matter and hope that something meaningful will come out of it during the week,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the security operatives to arrest the suspects without further delay. The Islamic human rights organisation called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack and cautioned that the case must not be swept under the carpet.

Ambassador Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade who chairs MURIC, Oyo State, noted that Busari’s son was earlier reported to the police by the community for noise pollution and environmental disturbance.

Similarly, the Amir of Organisation of Tadhamunil Muslimeen (OTM), Oyo State chapter, Ustādh Kamaludeen Udhayfah, described the inhumane action of the Iseyin pastor as callous.

The Amir called on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter and if the pastor is found culpable, he should face the wrath of law so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Also,  the Oyo State chapter of Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) denounced the incident which it described as senseless.

FOMWAN in a statement issued and signed by its Amirah, Dr Lateefah Dairo, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, condemned the fact that the perpetrators acted on the instruction of a Christian cleric.

“No individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands or perpetrate violence against others, regardless of their religious beliefs or affiliations. The actions of these fake soldiers and the cleric who allegedly instigated them are a clear violation of human rights and the principles of peaceful coexistence.

“We call on the authorities to immediately investigate this incident, apprehend the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. We also urge religious leaders to promote tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among their followers,” the statement read.

A source who craved anonymity claimed that Damilola Stephen with the army registration number 23NA/85/11522 has absconded to Abuja.

In a telephone chat with Daily Trust, Apostle Ogundairo, CAN Chairman, Iseyin Local Government Area, said he has gone round pleading with the Islamic scholars in Iseyinland. He added that it was glaring that the pastor was guilty.

He said, “This evening I was with the Chief Imam of Iseyinland, he embraced and prayed for me. He said that the case would be settled and he would update me on developments.”

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, said that investigation was ongoing.