Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has put an end to the over the four-decade feud between two Islamic sects over who lead as the Chief Imam of Iyara Central Mosque in Iyara, the local government headquarters of Ijumu in Kogi state.
The governor also charged the Administrator of Ijumu local government area, Hon. Taufiq Isa, to deployed resources and security to the area in order to maintain and sustain the peace accord between the sets. Bello, who was represented at the meeting by the Special Adviser on security, Jerry Omodara, stressed the need for absolute peace and warned that “in case of any further crises, the leadership of Onah Mosque would be held responsible.”
At the reconciliation meeting held in Lokoja on Tuesday which was attended by the Chief security officer to the Governor, Special Adviser on Security, the representative of the police and the Administrator of the Council to broker peace between the two parties, the peace committee prevailed on them to share the position equitably. The central mosque, Ilupa, agreed to take the Chief Imam of Iyara, while Onah Mosque produces the Deputy Chief Imam and all representatives of no fewer than 33 elders and Islamic scholars agreed and signed the pact. In the peace meeting, the two parties also consented to the stoppage of a proposed turbanning ceremony of a proposed grand ceremony of central mosque scheduled to hold on May 5, this year. The state Islamic body, Jamatul Nasiru Islam (JNI), equally agreed to continue to ensure peace and also work towards maintaining peace amongst Muslim communities in the state.
