The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to intervene and stop alleged palace agents from extorting Muslim traders in Ile-Ife markets under the guise of collecting levies for the Olojo Festival.
MURIC made the appeal in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, and made available to journalists on Monday.
The group raised concerns after reports surfaced over the weekend that individuals claiming to be palace agents were compelling Muslim traders to pay levies for the festival.
According to MURIC, the traders were also subjected to harassment, with their goods allegedly seized when they resisted payment.
Professor Akintola described the levies as “illegal and unlawful,” insisting that they amounted to economic extortion and religious persecution.
He identified those allegedly involved in the extortion as Mr Efunwole Kola, Mr Sogo Olagbaju, and Mr Hezekiah Agunbiade, and demanded that the seized goods be returned to their rightful owners.
“MURIC strongly condemns this invasion and the seizures. Apart from being illegal and unlawful, it is daylight robbery.
It is also a deliberate attempt to impoverish poor Muslim traders who are struggling to survive in these hard times. It is wicked, inhuman, and insensitive,” the statement read.
The organisation said it received the report from the Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN), Ile-Ife branch, which has documented the alleged harassment, intimidation, and coercion over a period of more than five years.
Akintola appealed to the Ooni of Ife to assert his authority by calling the alleged perpetrators to order, noting that while they may have acted independently, a firm intervention from the monarch would restore confidence among Muslim petty traders.
“We demand justice for the oppressed Muslim petty traders. Ooni could not have sent them. Kabiyesi is a man of peace and justice. The parasites must be brought to book to clear Ooni’s good name,” MURIC added.
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