The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on Tuesday issued a directive to the Chief Imam of Ilorin and other Islamic clerics, urging them to initiate a robust campaign against drug abuse and cultism within the community.
The directive was given during a special prayer session organized by the Ilorin Emirate Council in collaboration with the Kwara State Community Police Initiative. The prayer, held at the Emir’s palace, sought divine intervention for sustained peace and coexistence among the people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State at large.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari specifically called upon the clerics to incorporate special prayers for peace and tranquility in Ilorin and Kwara State into their early morning and evening congregational prayers. “Our Imams in all Mosques in Ilorin Emirate should immediately commence offering of special prayers during the early morning and evening congregational prayers for security of lives and property in Ilorin Emirate and Kwara as a whole,” the Emir instructed.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need for active engagement in the fight against social vices. “Our Imams and other clerics should also embark on campaign against drugs and cultism both during the early morning prayer and shortly before the evening prayer at their respective localities, and this message should be spread out to our the clerics in our neighboring local governments in Kwara South and Kwara North,” he added.
Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf, Chairman of the Kwara State Community Police Initiative, echoed the Emir’s concerns, attributing the prevailing insecurity in Ilorin Emirate primarily to drug abuse and youth involvement in cultism. He asserted that a united front from all stakeholders against these issues would significantly reduce insecurity in the area. Yusuf also joined the Emir in encouraging Imams and clerics to leverage prayer as a means of combating the menace of drug abuse and cultism across Ilorin and Kwara State.
The prayer session was attended by all members of the Ilorin Emirate Council and the Divisional Police Officer of “C” Division, Oja-Oba, Ilorin, CSP Dauda Saad.
