The Future of Ilorin
By Salihu Alabi,Phd
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent and the Merciful.
The gruesome ritual killing of Miss Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, allegedly perpetrated by Abdulrahman Muhammed Bello Idi-Isin, an acclaimed Alfa from Isale- Koto area of Ilorin has left an indelible mark on the Ilorin Emirate history. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action to address the underlying factors contributing to such heinous crimes that are not the first of their kind in recent times.
My just concluded (Ilorin National Muslim Peace Conference) held 19th November 2024, at De Peace Hotel and Suites, Tanke Road, Ilorin, where renowned Muslim scholars, such as Prof. AbdulRazzaq AbdulMajeed Alaro, Fadeelat Sheikh (Dr.) Suleiman Faruk Onikijipa, OON and Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Fadeelat Sheikh Dr. AbdulKadir El- Salman Alfa Oba Shholagberu, Mallami Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate, Fadeelat Sheikh Ahmad Olarewaju Abdulrahman, Sheikh Fuhad Adeyemi, and Mallam Nasir AbdulKadir and host of others converged to discuss pressing issues affecting the Muslim community in Ilorin and Nigeria as a whole.
The conference highlighted the imperative of de-radicalization and reorientation of youths, ensuring their pursuit of Islamic and Arabic scholarship remains genuine, focused, and productive.Regrettably, Abdulrahman Bello Idi-Isin’s recent actions have validated our concerns. We must acknowledge our collective responsibility and share of blame as a community and Muslim Ummah for allowing such incidents to occur in Ilorin, a town renowned for nurturing men of God in knowledge and practice for time immemorial. We have ignored the early warning signs, tolerated the accumulation of wealth over expertise and fear of Allah that we’re known for as people, and failed to address and challenge the display of wealth and affluence among young Islamic scholars without a visible source of income creating the impression in the minds of the young ones that suggest Jalabi and ritual Killings in the only way to make money in Ilorin.
Way Forward
Urgent Meeting of the Council of Ulama: His Royal Highness, Maimaritaba Sarkin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CRF, and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, should convene an emergency meeting of all the Ulama in Ilorin Emirate, under the chairmanship of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Fadeelat Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Imam Soilu (OON) outlines terms and conditions for conducting Dawah in the Ilorin Emirate.
Taskforce Establishment:
A task force should be established, chaired by Hon. Grand Kadi Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Khalifah Adabiyyah, Mudeer Markaz, Mufti of Ilorin, Mallami of Ubandomi of Ilorin, Alhaji Sheu AbdulGafar, Alhaji LAK, Jimoh, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye, Makana of Ilorin, National President, IEDPU, Prof, Abubakar Imam Ali-Agan, Prof. Abdulmajeed AbdulRazzaq Alaro, Prof. M M. Jimba, Prof. Yusuf Lanre Badmus, Hon Justice Suleiman Duroshinlohun Kawu retired, Hon. Justice Abdullahi Haroon, Hon. Justice S O. Muhammad, representative of Commissioners of Police, DSS, NSCDC, Hajia Halimat Yusuf, Hajia Funmilayo Gold, Prof. Saidat Abdulbaki Salah, and rep Ilorin Emirate youth organisation to monitor the daily Dawah activities in Ilorin including online and ensure strict compliance with set standards.
Curriculum Review and Entrepreneurship Skills:
The current Islamic school’s curriculum should be revised to accommodate entrepreneurship skills, enabling graduates to become self-sustainable and reduce unemployment among young Alfas.
Reorientation of Proprietors and Students:
Proprietors of advanced Islamic and Arabic colleges should be reoriented to prevent breeding criminals.A team of professional scholars should be established to counsel students and reorient them on the noble purpose of pursuing Islamic knowledge.Arabic Board should be strengthened, equipped and empowered to coordinate the activities of the Arabic and Islamic schools in Kwara State. Conclusion,
The truth remains that there are potentially thousands of Abdulrahman Bello Idi-Isin living among us, with many cases going unreported. Urgent and aggressive action is necessary to stem the spread of this menace and restore Ilorin’s glory as a true City of Light and Knowledge in Nigeria.
Dr. Salihu Alabi Hammed,
Department of Politics and Governance,
Kwara State University, Malete,
Ilorinpeace35@gmail.com.
