I defied lockdown order to send message to the world –Delta Imam

By Atevure Princess,

The Imam in-charge of the Ekakpamre community Mosque in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state, Muhammadu Young Okotie said he deliberately defied the Delta State Government lockdown order to hold worship on Friday in order to send a message to the world.

Recall that the head of the Sultan of Sokoto in his Ramadan message enjoined the Muslims to observe the Ramadan prayers in their home following the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

A trending video of Muslims in Ekakpamre community in their hundreds on Friday holding worship at the local mosque in defiance to the state government ban on places of worship has generated a lot of reactions from Deltans, who saw it as an affront on the government and the people of the state.

Daily Independent reports that when the information got to the DPO of Otu-Jeremi Divisional Police Headquarters of the Muslims worship, he hurriedly mobilized his men to the mosque at Ekakpamre where he met Muslims in their hundreds worshipping.

The reported stated further that attempt by the DPO and his men to enforce the lockdown order was resisted by the Imam, Muhammadu Okotie who allegedly threatened the DPO and his men with a knife with tactical backing of some men on a military uniform, who dared the police to arrest him.

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The DPO and his men lift in order to avert possible bloodbath as the military men were spurring for action, while the worship continued amidst jubilation by the Muslims.

According to Daily Independent reports, the Imam of the Ekakpamre Mosque, Imam Muhammadu Young Okotie, confirmed defiling the order, saying he did it to pass a message of marginalization of Muslims in Ughelli South Local Government Area to the world.

He, however, denied allegations of threatening the Otu-Jeremi DPO with a knife and military men been around to support his actions. “Those saying I threatened the DPO with a knife are haters of Islam”, he said.

According to him, “when the government asked everybody to stay at home for 14 days, we obeyed but at the end when palliatives were sent to the local government area by the state government, Muslims in the local government area didn’t benefit because it was only Christian clergies that were appointed to share the items.

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“So I deliberately opened the mosque for members to worship today (Friday 24 April 2020) to draw the attention of the world that we are hungry. And since they refused to give us foodstuffs sent by the state government, we have no option than to cry to our God for help through the Friday worship.

“We are all members of the local government area, so we have the right to benefit equally. But when you constitute a committee with only Christian clergies as heads, they will only represent the interest of their religion. As an Imam in-charge of the council area, I am supposed to be part of the committee to represent the interest of Muslims.

“If it is to make peace during the Fulani herdsmen attack and elections, I will be called upon by those in authority. So today, I have been able to draw the attention of the world through worship.

When contacted, at the time of filing this report, the PPRO, Delta State Police Command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said she has not been briefed of the incident but promised to get back to our correspondent.