Vice President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), Sheik Abdur’Rasheed Adiyatullah, has denied the allegation that the Yorubas were sent to kill the Hausas in Ile-ife.

He made the denial while addressing journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel at Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday.

Sheik Adiyatullah said the Yorubas could not have been sent to kill the Hausas as the two ethnic groups are friends and brothers in the same religion.

He added that council strongly condemned the crisis which resulted in the death of many and loss of property worth billions of naira.

His words: “The recent incidence in Ife is a regrettable one as Hausas and Yorubas have been living peacefully in the community for over two centuries. What could have sparked this provocation is still baffling our minds.

“We the Yoruba do not hate Hausas on account of Book Haram challenges as the Government is not relenting in her efforts to return peace to the affected places.

“Yoruba people are friends to all ethnic groups in the country and we want to state clearly that our Northern brothers are safe in any part of Yorubaland.

“Islam is also a religion of peace and it abhors fighting and killing.”

Adiyatullahi also commended the efforts of the State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Enitan, in trying to restore peace to the affected areas.

He also urged the two ethnic groups to always lodge their complaints to necessary quarters instead of resulting to violence.

“There are Serikis, Leaders and even Obas in any Yoruba city to lodge complaints to. There are also Law Enforcement Offices to report to when misunderstanding occurs. We shouldn’t let our issues result to violence, we have been together for so many years, we should rather continue to strengthen the love and peace between us,” he said.

A member of SCSN and the chairman of Izalat Bidiah Wahi Qomotul Sunnah, Osun State, who was also present at the conference, Alhaji Hashim Danmiefurah, said the clash shouldn’t have been between the Yoruba and Hausa people.

Said he: “The Yoruba and Hausa people are the two closest ethnic groups in Nigeria. I am surprised this could happen. The Hausa and Yoruba have been together for a very long time.

“I am an Hausa man but I married a Yoruba woman and she has given birth to many children for me. And such is the case everywhere too, so many Hausa men have gotten married to Yoruba woman, the two ethnic groups are typically friends.”

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