Date: 2018-01-03

Meanwhile, the state police command said it has arrested 32 suspected irate youths who were allegedly involved in the attack.

Although the atate Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has condemned the act, he has also vowed to ensure continued peace and harmony in the state while the Speaker of the state House of assembly, Mr. Ahmad Ali, called for investigation in order to fish out the perpetrators.

In a statement signed by CAN Chairman in Ilorin, Professor Timothy Opoola, he described the act of the suspected hoodlums as barbaric and uncalled for. The body strongly appealed to the Kwara State governor to quickly intervene and forestall future attack on its members.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, said the attack was not a premeditated religious attack as being speculated in some quarters.

He said the command received a distress call at about 1a.m. on the new year day to the effect that hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons were harassing and intimidating people and commercial motorcycle riders along Ibrahim Taiwo Isale area of the Ilorin metropolis.

"This group of unruly youth were said to be throwing fireworks, including knock out bangers of different indiscriminately into premises of both the Catholic and Methodist churches and the United Secondary School, where members of the Quareeb Muslim Group and Christian worshippers were having their crossover programmes, causing a stampede in the premises of the school.

"This commotion gave the hoodlums an opportunity to gain entrance into the church premises, snatching handsets of some of the worshippers, damaged five vehicles belonging to worshippers and three persons sustained varying degrees of injury.

"On the strength of the report, police men drafted to the scene promptly brought the situation under control while 10 suspects were initially arrested, the injured victims were rushed to the hospital where they were treated", he said. He added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed.