The Kwara State Police in North Central Nigeria have officially acknowledged the employment of a forged warrant in the arrest of Adegbola Abdulazeez, renowned as Talolorun, an activist deeply rooted in traditional religious beliefs. This revelation has come to light in the aftermath of his detainment.
SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the official spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed on Monday that the police force was completely unaware of the source or legitimacy of the warrant used to apprehend Talolorun, who is a notable advocate of Isese, the traditional religion.
Notably, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore had previously disclosed on Sunday that the Nigerian police had taken Talolorun into custody with a falsified warrant. Furthermore, Sowore stated that the police had appealed to the state government for permission to proceed with Talolorun’s prosecution without involving the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Sowore shared his concerns regarding this situation on his Facebook page, asserting, “#FreeTaniOlorun: The unveiled manipulation orchestrated in Ilorin to surreptitiously incarcerate Tani Olohun is now exposed. Initially, they obtained a fraudulent arrest warrant from an Area Court to facilitate his detention. Presently, they are urging the state authorities to permit his prosecution while bypassing the DPP’s office.”
Over the weekend, our correspondent reported that prison authorities in Kwara State obstructed the access of family members and activists to Talolorun, who had been remanded by a magistrate court in Ilorin.
The charges levied against Talolorun, as documented in SaharaReporters’ records, include an alleged scheme to incite conflict by gathering other adherents of traditional and idol worship in Ilorin on August 20, 2023. Additionally, the charge sheet attributes accusations of blasphemy, affronts against the Islamic faith, and incitement of the public against established authorities to Talolorun. He is also accused of desecrating the Quran and defaming the Chief Imam of Offa, Muuhideen Hussein, as well as several other clerics.
Nonetheless, relatives and supporters of Talolorun, who are advocates of the Isese tradition, conveyed their frustration to SaharaReporters on Saturday, recounting that the police had obstructed their attempts to visit him during his detainment