“You have destroyed youth”: Chief Imam of Ogbomoso warns Islamic clerics over money ritual sermons, calls for full retraction of destructive statements
The Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Dr. Teliat Yunus Ayilara, has issued a stern warning to Muslim clerics who have, at any time, made statements promoting money rituals, urging them to retract their destructive words or face serious consequences.
Delivering his Friday Jumah sermon, the Imam condemned the growing influence of ritualistic ideologies among misguided youths, linking them to unguarded statements made by certain clerics. His statement comes in the wake of the tragic murder of Hafsat Yetunde, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, allegedly killed for ritual purposes.
The gruesome incident, which shocked Ilorin and the entire country, involved an alleged Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, who reportedly hacked Yetunde to death. Bello, currently facing trial, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre alongside other suspects.
The Imam of Ogbomosoland emphasized that the roots of such crimes are deeply connected to misleading sermons by some influential clerics. He criticized them for encouraging youths to seek wealth through dubious means, urging those responsible to publicly retract their past statements.
“Some of you have turned students attending Arabic schools (Madrasah) into unfortunate beings through your reckless teachings. Those clerics who have preached such messages will be held accountable before Allah in this life and the hereafter,” he declared.
Dr. Ayilara also referenced a particular unnamed Imam who once encouraged young clerics to target the daughters of governors and ministers through spiritual manipulation to gain access to their family wealth.
The Imam concluded by stressing that religious leaders must be mindful of their teachings, as they hold immense influence over their followers and the broader society.
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