Sallah: Apprehension As Hoodlums Lay Siege To Ilorin

There is growing concern over youths’ involvement in thuggery, drug abuse and other crimes in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The youths’ penchant for disruptive activities reached its peak on Sallah day (Saturday) when hoodlums besieged Ilorin Eid praying ground and prevented the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari from delivering his speech. It’s customary that the Emir addresses his subjects at such an auspicious occasion with a large gathering of people.

The state governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq had to intervened and restrained worshippers from any counter reactions. That saved the situation from going out of hand.

Clerics at the praying ground had earlier appealed to all the politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves in orderly and peaceful manner.

The hoodlums also disrupted the famous Ilorin durbar celebration which is held on the second day of Sallah. Just as it happened on the Eid praying ground, the colourful durbar event was getting to a close when the hoodlums started throwing stones on the crowd.

Sensing danger, organisers of the event through one of the masters of ceremony, Bola Olojoku pleaded with the hoodlums to give peace a chance and urged the security operatives  to exercise restraints in handling the ugly development.

The governor who had participated in the horse riding alongside the Emir and other honorary title holders in Ilorin, including Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq (Mutawali) and Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki ), could hardly read his speech at the durbar event because of the charged atmosphere.

He only managed to thank the Emir, the organisers and the people of Ilorin Emirate for holding a colourful durbar before his entourage left the venue of the event.

Speaking on the issue, national secretary of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Mal Abubakar Imam said: “The union has been doing a lot to stem the tide. We have engaged in vigorous media campaigns against drug abuse and allied matters over the years and we shall keep doing our best to ensure that sanity prevails.

“But we must call on the government and law enforcement agencies to raise their efforts towards reducing drug consumption. We are also calling on parents and guardians to do the needful.The various media organisations should also take a campaign against illicit drug consumption as one of their corporate social responsibilities in the interest of all.”

An Ilorin-born Islamic scholar, Dr AbdulSobur Alaaya, had raised the alarm over the involvement of youths in drug abuse, especially the use of cannabis.

Alaaya bared his mind last Thursday at the IEDPU’s headquarters, Ilorin, where the leadership of the union organised a dinner for the newly appointed honorary title holders in Ilorin Emirate.