The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three men in connection with the burning of a house belonging to an elderly traditional worshipper in Ilorin, the state capital, following what police described as threats rooted in religious intolerance.
The suspects were alleged to have issued threats as far back as November 2025 to set the woman’s house ablaze over her practice of traditional religion before allegedly carrying out the act on January 1, 2026.
Confirming the development on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident was reported at about 10pm on January 2 at the C Division Police Station, Oja Oba, by the victim, Mrs T. A. Olorisha.
According to the police, the fire incident occurred around 7pm on January 1 while the complainant was away from home, adding that no life was lost as no one was inside the building at the time of the attack.
Ejire-Adeyemi disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had earlier received threats from some individuals identified as Alhaji Salihu Saka, 63; Alhaji Abubakar Salihu, 58; and Alhaji Yekini Olohuntele, 67, allegedly over religious differences.
“All three suspects have been arrested and are currently in police custody, aiding investigation,” the spokesperson said, noting that the value of the property destroyed by the fire was yet to be determined.
The police condemned any form of interference with citizens’ rights to freedom of religion and peaceful coexistence, stressing that such actions were unacceptable in any part of the country.
She added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the incident, assuring residents that the command was committed to ensuring justice and protecting lives and property, irrespective of religious or cultural beliefs.
The police urged members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations into the incident.
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