Muslims in Osun take to the streets to criticize 'ritualist alfas.'

On Sunday, Muslims in Iwo, Osun State, held a peaceful demonstration against ritual killings in the community, calling on the government to ensure that anyone caught in the act was punished appropriately.

The protest commenced at the Iwo Central, as the protesters, bearing placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Ritualists are not among alfas’, ‘We reject ritual killings in Iwo and environs’, ‘Islam is against ritualists’, among others, moved round the community, denouncing the act.

Shafi'i Bello, the Ameer of the Ansrul-Huda Islamic Organisation, led the demonstrators who assembled under the banner of the Coalition of Islamic Scholars and Organizations.

Islam, according to Bello, condones the shedding of human blood

"This is our common stance," he remarked. Anyone who kills humans, buys or sells human parts is not to be considered a Muslim.

"This is because Islam's law states that we must not kill anyone without due process, save for those whom Islam has stated should be killed." Killers are frowned upon by God."

Also speaking during the protest, the NASFAT Missioner in Iwoland, Sheikh Tajudeen Bilal, condemned ritual killings and declared that no serious Muslim would involve in such acts.

He asserted that suspected ritual killers who claimed to be Quranic scholars in the past were liars.

"This (ritual killing) has become prevalent among the wolves in sheep's clothing; those who are calling themselves alfas," Bilal remarked, lamenting the recurrence of ritual killings in the community.

"They are not genuine Muslims since the Al-Qur'an has taught us that killing in any form is a sin. It also taught us that killing a soul is the same as killing the entire planet.""