The Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC), has recommended stiffer sanction against kidnappers and ritualists to stem the tide of the dastardly acts in the society.
The first vice-president of the community, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi gave the recommended at a news conference organised by OSMC to usher in the activities to mark this year Islamic calendar, Hijra (1439) celebration.
He said some hardened criminals masquerading as Alfas and pastors are on the prowl, deeply involved in human rituals and kidnapping, saying the act is not only tarnishing the image of good clerics, but also instilling fears and panic in the society.
“The only way to stem the ugly tide is to ensure that these hardened criminals are appropriately dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
“The ritual killing exist, not among fake Islamic leaders alone, there are as well fake or untrue leaders in other religions. Religion is just a way to disguise and to push away suspicious attention.
The OSMC leader said the theme for this year’s Hijra Colloquium “Islamic Rulings on Kidnapping and Ritual Killings, which held on Thursday could not have come at a better time.
Hijra, according to the Islamic cleric, is the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina as a result of stiff opposition he faced in his native land, Mecca.
The Meccans at that time, he recalled, were idol worshippers and thereby resisted his message of only one Almighty Allah, saying, Hijra in modern era therefore is abandoning one’s evil ways to embrace a new one.
The secretary of OSMC, Alhaji Hashim Olapade complemented Olawuyi by saying that the twelve months in Islam can be found in the Holy Quran and is in conformity with the moon (Lunar).
He urged muslims to know more about the Islamic calendar and embrace it fully.
The news conference was attended by top executive members of OSMC such as the second vice-president, Alhaji Bola Bello, and the Public Relation Officer, Alhaji Abdulateef Olayanju. Others include Alhaji Bamigbade Kasali, Alhaji Asif Adegoke and Alhaji Ismail Tadese, among several others.
The week long activities commenced on Sunday, September 17th with a live interactive session on Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio, EROYA and Breakfast Dialogue on the television arm of the same corporation.
Monday featured the press briefing at the OSMC secretariat; the following day witnessed the Quran recitation competition which involved the best memorisers of the Holy Quran which produced the finalists for the grand finale.
Thursday, September 21st witnessed the colloquium where distinguished Islamic scholars, academics and clerics did justice to the topic: Islamic Rulings on kidnapping and Ritual killings.
Special Jumu’ah service held on Friday, 22nd September throughout the state where the significance of Hijra featured prominently as the sermon in the various mosques.
The Osogbo city stadium would play host to the grand finale of the Hijra activities on Sunday, September 24.
