While many Muslim homes in Iseyin celebrated the last Eidul-Ad’ha, known as the Ileya Festival, the family of Mallam Sulaiman Abdulazeez faced a harrowing experience. Mallam Sulaiman and his two wives ended the day receiving treatment at Fadoks Hospital in Iseyin after being assaulted by Pastor Busari Stephen of Christ Apostolic Church, his soldier son Damilola Stephen, and several other soldiers.
The incident occurred at the Barracks Area, Odo Omu, Iseyin, Oyo State, on June 16, 2024, around 12 pm. Mallam Sulaiman had returned from the prayer ground to slaughter his goat in front of his house when Pastor Busari Stephen confronted him, questioning why he was slaughtering the goat facing his church, which was 20 meters away and separated by a road.
Despite Mallam Sulaiman’s explanations that he was within his rights to perform the slaughter in front of his house, Pastor Busari Stephen was not satisfied. He called his soldier son, Damilola Stephen, who arrived shortly with three other men, all displaying military insignia. One was even armed, and another was in full military gear. They were identified as Ogunwale Olayemi Samuel, Olusesi Blessing, and Azeez Taofeeq.
Damilola Stephen began beating Mallam Sulaiman with a large stick, causing severe injuries. When Mallam Sulaiman’s wives, wearing niqaab, tried to intervene, they were also assaulted. Pastor Busari Stephen struck Hajia Nafeesah Imraan, one of Mallam Sulaiman’s wives, on the head, causing a severe bleeding injury. The other wife, Hajia Haajar AbdurRazzaq, who was pregnant, was dragged through the church staircase, sustaining serious leg injuries.
At the hospital, Damilola Stephen and additional soldiers, about seventeen in total, continued their attack, targeting Mallam Sulaiman’s family members, including his elderly mother and brother, Daud Abdulazeez, who had his palms slashed with a knife.
The incident was reported to the Iseyin Divisional Police headquarters. Pastor Busari Stephen and his accomplices were arrested, quickly arraigned in court, and granted bail, with one detained in a correctional facility. Pastor Busari reportedly boasts that he and his son will face no consequences, and some Christian leaders in Iseyin are allegedly trying to cover up the incident.
However, AbdulWaahid A. Olowonjaye, a Muslim legal practitioner, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, with copies sent to the Inspector General of Police and other authorities. A petition was also submitted to the General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan.
The conflict’s roots trace back to repeated disputes between Mallam Sulaiman Abdulazeez and Pastor Busari over noise from the church’s late-night vigils. The local ruler, Aseyin of Iseyin, had previously ruled that Pastor Busari should reduce the noise, suggesting sound acoustics, which Pastor Busari ignored. The community once suggested Mallam Sulaiman sell his house to Pastor Busari, but the pastor refused to meet the price.
Pastor Busari had previously reported Mallam Sulaiman to the police, accusing him of making threats, leading to Mallam Sulaiman’s arrest and subsequent release on bail. These ongoing tensions culminated in the violent events of June 16, 2024.
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