CAN Confirms Pastor, Others Attacked Muslims In Iseyi, Issues Sanctions

The incident occurred on Eid day and was captured in a widely circulated video. Both CAN and the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC) have condemned the attack.

A violent attack on a Muslim family by members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Iseyin, Oyo State has prompted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to sanction the church.

The incident occurred on Eid day and was captured in a widely circulated video. Both CAN and the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC) have condemned the attack.

Apostle Sunday Ogundairo, CAN chairman in Iseyin Local Government, confirmed that the church’s pastor and some congregation members were involved in the assault on Mr. Sulaimon AbdulAzeez and his two wives, according to a local newspaper, Oyo Echo.

The victims claimed that the pastor hired soldiers to attack them over the slaughtering of a ram while facing the church. In response, CAN has sanctioned the pastor and ordered the relocation of his church. Ongoing discussions aim to maintain peace in the area.

The attack has sparked outrage, with MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, attributing the incident to a prior dispute over noise pollution, previously addressed by the king of Iseyin.

Akintola reported that the incident took place on Sallah day, June 16, 2024, as the Muslim family was preparing to slaughter their Sallah ram.

The church’s pastor protested that the ram faced the church, leading to the involvement of soldiers.

Akintola condemned the actions of the soldiers as ‘unjust, callous, and inhuman.’

He urged the army to promptly investigate, arrest, and punish the culpable personnel, emphasizing that ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’ He demanded swift action to address the atrocity, stressing that any delay would be unacceptable.