Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged oppression of Muslims in Ugbekpe, a community in Edo State, by traditionalists who the group claims impose curfew on everybody and prevents Muslims from attending evening prayers, and their children from evening Arabic class.

In a statement by its Director, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, and Public Relations Officer, Abdul Yakeen Williams, MURIC said Muslims who defied the curfew were harassed and had their properties confiscated by the traditionalists, who allegedly belong to Ikuaghua, a native cult.

The statement reads: "Ugbekpe is the headquarters of Ekperi Etsako Central Local Government of Edo State. There was disquiet in this sleepy town last week. This was a culmination of years of constant intimidation of Muslims in the town by traditional worshippers who always enforce their will on Muslims and other citizens.

"Ikuaghua, a native cult of the traditional worshippers, has become an instrument of terror used to coerce Muslims in the area. Muslims have been living in fear for quite some time now. The Ikuaghua makes and enforces laws which are against the ethics of Islam. They impose curfew at will. Muslim children can no longer learn in the Qur'an Evening c lasses because only members of the cult are permitted to come out in the evenings.

"Worse still, they cannot leave their homes to attend evening prayers in the mosques. People cannot go to farm on Elenekhua and market days. Muslims are forced to observe festival days of the Ibaki, Ipkelo, Elenekhua, Ikuaghua, etc.

"Muslims who resist are attacked and their properties are taken away from them by the Ikuaghua priests and their agents. Some of those who have been attacked are the Chief Imam, Alhaji Mahmud Ibrahim, Hassan Idris, Abdul Karim Jibril, Zakari Kanoba, Braimah Musa (the Muadhin), etc. It was after Umar Okilagwe, Co-ordinator of the Muslim Rights Concern, Edo State Chapter, facilitated dialogue between the traditionalists and the Muslims on Wednesday July 30, 2008, that their properties were returned.

"MURIC condemns this wanton display of fanaticism, intolerance and belligerence manifested by the traditionalists in Ugbekpe. We call on the Edo State Government, the Edo State House of Assembly and security agencies in the state to take all necessary measures which will stop all forms of molestation of Muslims in the area.

"We remind the government of Edo State that Muslims in Ekperi have Allah-given and fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, has the mandate to restrict their movement to their places of worship, particularly at stipulated times. The attempt by the cultists to disallow Muslims from attending mosque in the evenings is a blatant contravention of Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees freedom of movement of every citizen.