The Yoruba Council Worldwide (YCW), an umbrella organisation representing Yoruba people globally, has opposed the planned inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo Town, Oyo State.

The event, organised by the Supreme Council for Shari-ah in Nigeria (SCSN), is slated for January 11, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Mobolaje area, Oyo Town.

The group said this in a statement signed by its president, Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq and its national publicity secretary, Bashorun Isaac Aderemi Ajibola, and addressed to Sheikh AbdulRasheed Hadiyatullah, president of SCSN, and other key stakeholders.

YCW, in the statement, described the move as a violation of Nigerian laws and a threat to Yoruba ancestral rights and cultural heritage.

The council emphasised that Yoruba land is a multicultural and multi-religious region with distinct traditions and values, rejecting any attempt to impose Sharia law or courts. The organisation warned that the inauguration could disrupt peaceful coexistence in the region and provoke ethno-religious tensions.

YCW referenced historical resistance against Islamic invasions during the old Oyo Empire, underscoring its commitment to defending Yoruba land against any form of destabilisation. The council also highlighted concerns over human rights abuses linked to Sharia law in Northern Nigeria, such as severe punishments for minor offenses.

In their demand for immediate cancellation of the event, the YCW called on prominent Yoruba leaders, including His Imperial Majesty Ooni of Ife, President Bola Tinubu, and other political and religious stakeholders, to intervene. The group also urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent the event, stressing their readiness to resist the move through legal and peaceful means.

The Yoruba Council Worldwide stated, “We don’t want Sharia law or Sharia courts in Oyo State or any part of Yoruba land. Yoruba culture and traditions are distinct, and any attempt to introduce alien laws will be met with fierce and logical resistance.

“We foresee this as an attempt to lure our peace-loving people of Yoruba land into unnecessary attrition of ethno-religious war, consequently this is despicable, demeaning and laughable to say the least.

“We avowed to mobilize resistance through all available legitimate means not limited to legal sanctions at a court of competent jurisdiction, we hereby place the Director General of the Department of State Services, NIA, IGP of Police on red alert to stop this impending provocative evil menace if the plan moves forward,” the group noted.