By Tobore Akpososo
In what appears to be a classic case of religious and societal conflict, a young Christian man, Olori Osaretin Onogbake, narrowly escaped a series of assassination attempts following a forbidden interfaith relationship in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Olori, originally from Delta State, was born and raised in Kaduna and has lived all his life in Northern Nigeria. Despite his Christian upbringing, he fell in love with a Muslim woman, the daughter of prominent Northern politician Ali Muhammad. Their clandestine relationship came to light when the young woman became pregnant.
According to Olori, the revelation of the pregnancy led to a barrage of threats from her father. “He called me, asking who gave me the guts to impregnate his daughter. He vowed to deal with me in a way I would never forget,” Olori recounted.
The threats quickly escalated into violence as thugs allegedly hired by the politician attacked him on multiple occasions. Feeling unsafe, Olori sought refuge at a local police station, but the situation took a dire turn when he was arrested. “The politician used his influence to manipulate the police. I had to call a friend to bail me out,” Olori said.
However, his troubles were far from over. Upon learning that the politician was still after him, Olori fled Kaduna for Jos, where he sought refuge with a childhood friend. It was during this period that he met his now-wife, Rejoice Saduwa, with whom he shares a son, Raylan.
The joy of building a new life was short-lived as Olori’s friend turned against him, allegedly leaking his whereabouts to the politician. “I was nearly assassinated twice in Jos, but by God’s grace, I managed to escape,” Olori narrated.
Now in hiding, Olori’s story highlights the challenges of interfaith relationships in Nigeria, particularly in regions where religious differences are deeply entrenched. His plight also raises questions about the misuse of power by influential individuals to oppress the less privileged.
The whereabouts of Olori remain undisclosed as he continues to evade those who seek to harm him. His resilience and determination to protect his family serve as a testament to the lengths one can go to for love and survival.
Efforts to reach Ali Muhammad for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
