(Lokoja
Any bridge of peace of peace during Friday prayer and Eid prayers coming Saturday in Okene will not be tolerated, the Police Command in Kogi State warned the Leaders of Tijaniya and Ansarul Tijaniya in Okene in the state.
The command gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lokoja, by DSP William Ovye Aya, its Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO).
Aya said the warning stemmed from meeting the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ede Ayuba, Director DSS Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi,Commander Army Record Major General OO Soleye and Commander NNS, Lugard CMD AA Adesanya held with the leaders of the two sects in Lokoja.
The security agencies said they were determined to deal with anyone who would not give peace a chance.
Aya quoted the Commissioner of Police as further warning both religious leaders to maintain status quo and talk to their followers to shun any form of violence within the central Mosque and Okene environment.
Duaglobalnews recalls that the state government had earlier directed that statusquo be maintained while the process for the emergence of new chief Imam of Ebiraland continued.
The police further admonished that, “If there is any crisis in the Mosque, both leaders should report themselves to the nearest Police station or be arrested for inciting violence.”
Aya said both leaders agreed to talk to their followers to maintain peace while the process for the emergence of a new chief imamlasted.
Those that attended the meeting according to the police image maker include; Sheikh Lukman Musa Galadima of Ansarul Islam.
Others were; Sheikh Salihu Abere of Tijaniya, Alhaji Abdulateef M. Ibrahim – Tijaniya . Alhaji Salihu Momoh – Sunnist, Salihu Ibrahim Oricha – Sunnist, Nuhu Ogirima – Ansarul Islam,Bello Hussein – Sunnist and Alhaji Adam Abere – Tijaniya.
The online publication further recalls that the last Friday prayer in Okene was marred by uneasy calm over Imamship tussle, following the death of Sheik Musa Galadima, the last substantive Chief imam of Ebiraland in 2019.
