BREAKING NEWS: Imams, Alfas Reject Alleged Daytime Curfew by Traditionalists in Ogun State

Tension is brewing in Ogun State as Islamic clerics, including prominent Imams and Alfas, have vehemently rejected an alleged plan by traditional worshippers to impose a daytime curfew on residents of Ikolaje and Idiroko communities in the Ipokia Local Government Area.

The move, which the clerics described as unconstitutional and provocative, was said to have been orchestrated by a group of traditionalists planning to restrict movement during daylight hours for spiritual rites. According to community sources, the proposed curfew would bar residents from stepping outside their homes between 12 noon and 3 p.m., a development that has sparked outrage and unease in the largely Muslim-populated area.

Leading the resistance, several Muslim leaders condemned the plan, insisting that no religious group has the right to infringe upon the fundamental rights of others. “This is a secular country governed by laws, not spiritual dictates. We cannot be forced to stay indoors during the day because of someone else’s beliefs,” one of the clerics declared during a heated town hall meeting on Friday.

The development comes amid growing concerns over religious freedom and cohabitation in multi-faith communities across Nigeria. Residents say this is not the first time such impositions have been attempted by traditional groups under the guise of spiritual observances.

Community members, backed by human rights activists, are calling on the Ogun State Government and security agencies to intervene and stop what they describe as an attempt to incite religious tension. They argue that such curfews are not only disruptive but also dangerous in a region already grappling with economic hardship and insecurity.

As of press time, the Ogun State Government has not officially responded to the controversy, but sources within the Ipokia Local Government Secretariat confirmed that security operatives have been alerted to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

This story is still developing.