The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has strongly condemned the recent assault on a Muslim cleric in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, during a cultural procession, calling for swift justice and government regulation of such events.
The incident, according to MPAC, involved a masquerader identified as Lobanika, who allegedly struck off the cap of an Imam standing peacefully by the roadside to allow the procession to pass.
The group described the act as “a brazen disregard for civil norms and individual rights,” adding that it was both provocative and offensive to Islamic values.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC criticized the attack as a clear violation of the Imam’s constitutionally guaranteed rights to dignity, religious freedom, and personal safety.
“No culture, tradition, or festival has the right to infringe on the rights of any Nigerian. The act of forcibly removing an Imam’s cap — a symbol of religious identity and modesty — is an affront to both human dignity and Islamic values,” the statement read.
The organization warned against the misuse of cultural practices as a shield for lawlessness and religious intimidation, urging law enforcement agencies to take immediate action.
MPAC called on the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate the incident and prosecute the masquerader along with any accomplices. It also urged the Oyo State Government to enforce regulations governing masquerade festivals to ensure public order and protect the rights of all citizens.
Furthermore, the group emphasized the need for traditional and community leaders to be held accountable when cultural processions become vehicles for harassment, violence, or extortion.
While encouraging Muslims to remain peaceful and law-abiding, MPAC stressed that such provocations should not be met with silence or passive acceptance.
“The Nigerian Constitution remains the supreme law of the land. Neither masquerades nor traditionalists are above it,” Kamor asserted.
MPAC affirmed its commitment to securing justice for the assaulted Imam and reiterated its broader mission to protect the rights of Muslim communities and peaceful citizens across Nigeria.