May 21, 2014
The little town of Ikonifin in Ola Oluwa Local government area of Osun State was thrown into an uproar when a church leader’s, Pastor Olatoke’s, ploy to “duplicate” Boko Haram in the vicinity was foiled by some sprightly youths. The ploy would have placed Muslims living in Ikonifin in a very sore light if the attempt by Pastor Olatoke was successful.
The pastor of the Baptist church Ikonifin, who is also the CAN President of Ola Oluwa Local Government, was reported to have conspired with three members of his church, Emmanuel Atanda, Pitter Oyedepo and Ogunniyi Babatope to dress like Boko Haram militants and use turban to cover their faces.
When it was around 11-12pm on Sunday, 18th May, 2014, during the church services, the three men stormed the church premises and started throwing knockouts to scare church members away.
Consequent upon this development, the worshippers took to their heels, running helter-skelter for their precious lives. Many were injured in the process. Fortunately, those men were arrested when they were trying to escape with their motorcycle by some agile youths of the community.
During the ensuing severe torture before the arrival of the police, the fake “Boko Haramites” revealed that they are members of the Baptist Church and that it was a planned deal with their pastor.
When the pastor was consulted he said it was just a drama.
The Christian Association reportedly did all possible best to bury the case but it failed as the exploit eventually leaked to the media.
Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, the Founder and National President of Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen has called on the state government to bring the perpetrators of such malicious crime to book.
“To bury such a case, is a crime against Muslims because if the plan was successful, Muslims would have been in danger. It’s unjust until the perpetrators are brought to book; and CAN should be warned that any conspiracy against Muslims or attempt to destabilize the State of Osun will be their end, In- Sha- Allah ” he warned.
Professor O.O Ladipo also called on the state government to arrest the pastor who intended to launch Boko Haram in the State of Osun with the aim of putting Muslims in danger.