An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has made a five-point demand from the Lagos State government over the collapse of the Al-Mutmahinat Central Mosque, situated at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos State which collapsed on Sunday, killing one person.
The group’s major demand is that the government of Lagos State should rebuild the mosque within six months without reducing its original size and without compromising its standard.
The demand was made in view of the position that the excavator which caused the calamity was working on the road expansion project embarked upon on that street by Lagos State government.
The demand was made on Tuesday during a visit of the Islamic group to the site of the collapsed mosque.
In a statement by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC’s other demands included that the government should pay adequate compensation to families of the deceased; pay the hospital bills of the injured and refund burial expenses of the eleven year-old girl who died.
The group also demanded that the government should arrange for the welfare of the Imam of the mosque and his family until the mosque was rebuilt, handed over to the community and become functional.
MURIC said it would continue to be in constant consultation with the mosque’s Imam to ensure that the demands were met.
The statement by MURIC reads further: “The right to life is an Allah-given fundamental human right which has been vicariously denied this little girl, late Anifat Yusuf, by an agent of LASG.
“Anifat’s father died five years ago and her mother, a widow of five years, has now lost the daughter whom she was hoping would one day be her bread winner, her succour and her companion. She is now alone facing not only the excruciating pains of a mother who lost a mature daughter but also the harsh realities of Nigeria’s galloping inflation.
“This widow’s home at 25, Bello Street, Papa Ajao, which used to be filled with laughter, is now the abode of sorrow, tears, desolation and misery. LASG must take responsibility. Anifat must not die in vain.
“Besides, a whole Muslim community whose only Central Mosque has been pulled down by an erratic excavator driver is now rendered mosque-less. They have become spiritual Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or, more correctly, Internally Displaced Worshippers (IDWs).
“Only Allah knows how they have been managing to observe the daily prayers since the tragedy three days ago but, more importantly, they must start looking around from today to find the nearest mosque where they will observe the next Jumuah prayer.
“LASG must therefore move quickly to rebuild the mosque. Our mosque is of great significance to us. It is not just where we worship Allah and listen to sermons, it is the house of Allah. It is our brotherhood shelter, our common room, information dissemination centre, counselling centre, education centre, consolation point, our strong room, our engine room and even more.
“The mosque is the Muslim centre of gravity. We cannot afford to have it missing for long. Internal agitation may soon grow into external anxieties and there is a limit to the influence which the mosque management and local Muslim leaders can exert on the restless Muslim youths in the area who have started asking questions.
“We can expect prolonged patience in any other area or areas of Lagos, but not in Mushin. This is the hotbed of activism in Lagos State. LASG must therefore ensure that this mosque is ready in six months. November 2024 is the deal. Let’s hear the response of LASG loud and clear: Deal?”
