MURIC Agege Lagos

23/04/2026

*MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎23rd April, 2026

PRESS RELEASE:

*‎‎EL-RUFAI: LONG ADJOURNMENT LENDS CREDENCE TO OPPOSITION CLAIM OF POLITICAL MOTIVATION – MURIC*

‎

‎The case involving former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was on Tuesday adjourned till the first week of June, 2026.

‎‎Commenting on the development, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said the long adjournment lends credence to opposition claim of political motivation.

‎‎This was the crux of a statement circulated to newsmen on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026 by the Executive Director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

‎The statement reads:

‎‎"The case involving former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, came up before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday, 21st April, 2026. However, the learned judge adjourned the bail hearing to the first week of June, 2026 (https://www-channelstv-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.channelstv.com/2026/04/21/court-adjourns-el-rufais-bail-application-to-june/).

*‎‎"While we respect pronouncements made in the temple of justice and we believe that the law must be allowed to follow its due process, the long adjournment of El-Rufai's case in a bailable offence lends credence to opposition claim of political motivation.*

“Neither does the cassu belli put forward by the learned judge hold any water. According to NaijaNews, Justice Darius Khobo held that ‘it was in the interest of justice for the defendant to remain in custody to ensure his availability for trial’ (https://www.naijanews.com/2026/04/23/el-rufai-bail-denied/ ).

*“It is on record that El-Rufai willingly presented himself to the EFCC ab initio (https://independent.ng/el-rufai-honours-efcc-invitation/). Not only that, he also went back voluntarily into custody from home without any prompting at the end of his mother’s burial rites. There was no report of any ICPC raid on his house before he went back. (vanguardngr.com/2026/03/el-rufai-back-in-icpc-custody-after-mothers-burial/).*

*“Above all, it will also be recalled that El-Rufai was outside the country when EFCC invited him. Instead of remaining there to seek political asylum, he elected to return home to face the charges and he notified EFCC of the date he would report. Besides, he has no past record of jumping bail. So why is he being kept in custody? (https://businessday.ng/news/article/el-rufai-to-return-to-nigeria-notify-efcc-of-monday-appearance/).*

‎‎"Concerning the duration of his detention, it will be recalled that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai willingly reported himself at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 16th February, 2026. He was transferred to the office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) three days later to face multiple charges.

‎‎"El-Rufai has therefore been in detention since Monday, 16th February, 2026 and he had already spent approximately two months (if the number of days he spent burying his mother is removed) by 21st April, 2026 when the learned judge denied him bail.

‎‎"By implication, El-Rufai would have spent approximately three and a half months by the time the bail application comes up again in the first week of June 2026.

*‎‎"Politicians facing corruption charges in Nigeria often spend between a few days to several weeks in ICPC detention. But that of the former governor of Kaduna is now drifting into months. El-Rufai is therefore being projected as probably the longest serving detained politician going by his expected stay in custody until the first week in June, 2026.*

*‎‎"The question being raised in the opposition camp is what else constitutes political witch-hunt if this does not?*

‎‎"We reiterate our commitment to justice running its due course but we should not be given the impression that some people can be forgotten behind bars. Democracy loses its essence where the wheels of justice are forced to run at snail speed or where they totally grind to a halt. Justice delayed is justice denied. Let El-Rufai go."

‎‎ -Rufai

‎ ‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

21/04/2026

*MURIC LAGOS STATE CHAPTER*

Presents

*MONTHLY ONLINE LECTURE (April 2026 Edition)*

```🗓️:```
*Saturday 25th April 2026*
*(7th Dhul-Qa'dah, 1447 AH)*

```⏰:```
*10:00 – 11:30am*

```Topic📝:```
*Middle East Conflicts, Hypocrisy and Muslim Concern*

*Guest Lecturer👳🏽‍♂️🎙️*
*Elder Yinka Salaam*
*Assistant Director News,*
*Voice of Nigeria, Lagos*

Venue🏛️:
*Google Meet* https://meet.google.com/pgz-bchf-bnf

MURIC.... dialogue, not violence!!!

18/04/2026

*MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

18th April, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

*‎DELIST JAMB CENTERS FALLING FOUL OF HIJAB LAW – MURIC*

‎‎A civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for the delisting of examination centres where acts of hijab discrimination occurred during the ongoing examination of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The group also demanded sanctions against any official found culpable.‎

‎MURIC's demand came on the heels of a viral video clip showing embarrassing moments when a Muslim candidate of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination was publicly harassed and disallowed from entering the examination centre at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre, Ibadan.

‎‎According to MURIC in a statement circulated to the media on Saturday, 18th April, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola:

‎‎"Nigerians were stunned as they watched a video clip in which female Muslim candidates, including one Fatimah Salaudeen, were forced to remove their hijab as a condition for entry into the examination Hall at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre, along Sango–Eleyele Road, Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, 17th April, 2026 (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/jamb-blames-overzealous-ad-hoc-staff-member-for-hijab-incident-at-ibadan-cbt-centre/).

*‎‎"This action is emblematic of the notorious scenario in apartheid South Africa where ‘Dogs and Blacks Not Allowed’ was the common notice found in swimming pools and other public places. They appear to be telling Nigerians that University education is for Christians only. Those who practice it are therefore committing crime against humanity.*

‎‎"JAMB itself must be commended for criminalising the profiling of hijab at CBT centers. It is on record that the examination body openly declared its allergy for hijab discrimination (See: Hijab discrimination not part of JAMB examination protocol – Official https://crimechannels.com/hijab-discrimination-not-part-of-jamb-examination-protocol-official/).

‎‎"Notwithstanding this red alert, some operators still allowed this criminal act to take place. For proper situational experimentation, we need to visualise what happens when a girl-child is disallowed from entering the examination hall. One can imagine how disturbed and disorganised the female Muslim candidates will be. It will definitely affect their composure for the exam.

“Their educational future immediately hangs in the balance. Their chances of passing the examination are drastically reduced because they are kept waiting outside the examination hall while other candidates continue writing.

*“John Dewey, the American philosopher, once described democracy as equal opportunity. But where is the ‘equal opportunity’ for the Nigerian Muslim girl-child as she is turned to a subject of mockery, harassment and humiliation by Nigerian Christians at the entrance of JAMB examination hall? To this extent, democracy in Nigeria is a joke until the fundamental human right of the Muslim girl-child is enforced by governments at all levels.*

‎‎"Unfortunately, nobody remembers to give the poor girl in hijab who has been denied entry any extra time by the time the matter is resolved and she is allowed to enter and start the examination. This is usually long after other candidates have started the examination and some may have finished. It shows that the candidates have not been given a level playing field. Hijab discrimination is therefore unfair, unjust and inhuman.

‎‎"It is alarming that Nigerian Christians are still stereotyping and persecuting the Muslim girl-child several years after the Supreme Court judgement upheld the use of hijab as constitutional simply because she is a Muslim. This reflects absence of religious tolerance, lack of respect for the rule of law and impunity of the highest order.

*‎‎"The state governments of the South-West stand to be blamed for failing to act, for failing to enforce court judgements which support hijab and for failing to punish those who oppress and persecute the hijab-wearing Muslim girl-child. The silence of all the six state governors of the South-West in particular on the refusal of Christians in the region to allow Muslim girls to freely use hijab in spite of court rulings is deafening and it borders on irresponsibility, hypocrisy and executive recklessness.*

‎‎"It is didactic to note that all the current Yoruba governors are Christians and none of them has spoken against this religious persecution. The principle of vicarious liability indicts these governors. They have enabled criminality, aided and abetted impunity and encouraged contempt of court.

‎‎"Are they waiting for the day Yoruba Muslims will take their destiny into their hands by rioting over hijab persecution? That day may not be too far away but they must blame themselves for their lackadaisical attitude on the issue. They always find it convenient to look the other way when Muslims are at the receiving end.

*‎‎"MURIC demands that operators of CBT centres, JAMB ad hoc staff and security personnel in centres where acts of hijab discrimination occur must be castigated. The centres in particular should be delisted. The centre operators should not be allowed to claim ignorance (their usual excuse) because they are vicariously liable (unless they show written evidence of instructions to the contrary passed to those who committed the offence.*

“MURIC wants to see accountability. We want to see respect for the rule of law. Rules are meant to be implemented for social order otherwise we are inviting commotion. By their attitude towards hijab, some Christians in position of authority continue to show that they have no regard for the rule of law.

*“Due to the pro-Christian structure of Nigeria and an anti-Muslim legacy bequeathed to the nation by the Christian colonial masters and contemporary neo-imperialists, Nigerian Christians appear to have the wrong impression that all official matters in Nigeria must follow church rules.*

*“They see education as Christian education and legal matters as Christian law only to the exclusion of Muslim Shari’ah law. Nay, they also see Christians only as those who have the right to take WAEC and JAMB examinations. Any Muslim seeking education must drop all vestiges of Islam in him or her! His way of worship, his Islamic identity, his Muslim name, his manner of dressing, everything…just like the French total and categorical ‘assimilation’.*

“Ceteris paribus, MURIC is of the opinion that the woman who removed Fatima’s hijab and probably the school also, should hear from our lawyer once we establish irrefutable locus standi in order to serve as deterrent to others. That will make other centres who have the same mindset about Muslims know that it is not going to be business as usual any longer.

“We warn that profiling and persecuting Muslims in Nigeria from now on is an invitation to bedlam. We appeal to Christian authorities not to push Muslim youths to the wall. To this end, we are drawing up a list of violators of the religious freedom of Muslims in Nigeria. Persecutors of Muslims on account of hijab and other civil rights will be top on the list which we intend to send to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the United Nations.

‎
Nations
# National Human Rights Commission



‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

16/04/2026

*‎MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence
‎
‎16th April, 2026
‎
‎PRESS RELEASE:
‎
*‎OGUN 2027: MURIC REMAINS NON-PARTISAN*
‎
‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared its non-partisan status in the light of party primaries conducted in Ogun State as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
‎
‎The group's declaration of neutrality followed a congratulatory message issued by its Ogun State branch after the emergence of Senator Solomon Yayi as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) two days ago.
‎
‎In a rejoinder signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of the organization on Thursday, 16th April, 2026, MURIC headquarters said:
‎
‎"We are constrained to issue a rejoinder following a congratulatory message issued by the Ogun State branch of our organization after the emergence of Senator Solomon Yayi as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, 14th April, 2026.
‎
‎"We affirm that Ogun State branch of our organization followed due process but there was an administrative glitche at headquarters due to a momentary delegation of roles.
‎
‎"The Executive Director of MURIC hereby takes full responsibility for the administrative skip. We are aware of the concerns raised by stakeholders including other political parties. We admit that the wordings could have been couched differently. We assure all stakeholders that MURIC is sensitive to the feelings of all aspirants regardless of their political leanings.
‎
‎"We therefore apologize to all those who may have been offended one way or another by the publication.
‎
*‎"Nonetheless, and despite the setback in Ogun State, we remain committed to our call on political parties to pick Muslims as their gubernatorial candidates in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun. We expect Ekiti and Ondo to give Muslims the deputy governorship slot.*
‎
‎"MURIC is not a political body though we reserve every right not only to promote but also to protect the interest of Nigerian Muslims. We are also aware that in doing so, we must not be seen to tilt towards a particular political party.
‎
‎"Our policy on relationship with political parties is encapsulated in the words of Abraham Lincoln who, in his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, said,
‎'With malice towards none, with charity for all'.
‎
*‎"Without prejudice to the development in Ogun State, therefore, we charge other political parties in the state who have not picked gubernatorial candidates to take advantage of the situation on ground. We are not under any obligation whatsoever to favour any political party and a congratulatory message is not necessarily an endorsement. It is an expression of goodwill. No more, no less."*

‎
‎

‎
‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
‎

14/04/2026

*‎MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence
‎
‎14th April, 2026
‎
‎PRESS RELEASE:
‎
*‎MURIC TO SECURITY AGENCIES: PROTECT JAMB CENTRES, CANDIDATES IN TROUBLE SPOTS*
‎
*‎An Islamic human rights organization has appealed to the security agencies to give maximum protection to both the candidates and examination officials in the forthcoming examinations that will be conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) throughout the country.*
‎
‎The appeal was contained in a statement circulated to the media on Tuesday, 14th April, 2026 by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.
‎
‎The statement reads:
‎
‎"Ahead of this year's examination of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, 2026 to Saturday, April 25, 2026, we wish to appeal to the Nigerian security agencies including, but not restricted to, the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to provide maximum protection to all stakeholders in the week-long exercise.
‎
‎"Our appeal becomes necessary in view of the state of insecurity which permeatesthe Northern part of the country.
‎
*‎"In particular, we call for special attention to Plateau State where indigenes and others are at daggers drawn. There is a strong propensity for trouble makers to target young candidates in such an area either at the examination venues or on their ways to and fro the centers.*
‎
‎"Equally volatile are states like Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Kwara where bandits may be eyeing mass abduction of candidates. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
‎
‎

12/04/2026

*‎MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence
‎
‎12th April, 2026
‎
*‎PRESS RELEASE:*
*‎ERRATIC AIRSTRIKE ON YOBE MARKET: MURIC DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY*
‎
‎More than 56 people were reported killed after an 'accidental' bombing which occurred in Yobe today, Sunday, 12th April, 2026.
‎
‎Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the bombing. The group called for the immediate suspension of the pilots and all senior officers who ordered the bombing pending the outcome of investigations.
‎
‎"More than 56 people were reported killed after an 'accidental' bombing which occurred at the Borno-Yobe border market today, Sunday, 12th April, 2026.
‎
*‎"This is one accidental bombing too many. This is perhaps the third or fourth of such erratic bombing. It is the height if ineptitude. How many times will our Air Force kill innocent civilians? What happened to forward-gathering intelligence? Was there any intelligence report at all? Who commanded the raid? Who gave the order to drop bombs? Who flew the jet fighters?*
‎
‎"We need answers. This is atrocious. How will a pilot mistake a market for an assemblage of terrorists? Are Nigeria's jets in the hands of sadists and psychopaths?
‎
‎"We are not quite certain of the number of those killed. While local media mentions 50 or 56 (https://theeagleonline.com.ng/breaking-over-50-killed-in-accidental-bombing-at-borno-yobe-border-market/), Reuters and other international sources cute 200 (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-airstrike-leaves-200-feared-dead-yobe-councillor-residents-say-2026-04-12/).
‎
*‎"MURIC demands immediate suspension of all those involved: from the pilot and copilot to the senior officers who approved the dropping of bombs. This must not go without a probe. We charge the National Assembly to rise to the task. This is not an investigation that can be trusted to the Nigerian Air Force alone. We demand accountability."*
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎

The incident occurred at Jilli Market, located between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe States on Saturday.

14/02/2026

*MURIC LAGOS STATE CHAPTER INVITES YOUR EXCELLENCY TO HER 👇*

*1447 (2026) ONLINE PRE-RAMADAN LECTURE HOLDING TODAY SATURDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2026 by 10am*

*VENUE: GOOGLE PLATFORM*

https://meet.google.com/xng-kiqm-hpg

*Jazākumullahu Khayran*

06/02/2026

‎‎ *MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎6th February, 2026

‎‎ PRESS RELEASE:

*US TROOPS IN NIGERIA: WE SEEK CLARIFICATIONS - MURIC*

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has requested for clarifications over the presence of American troops in Nigeria. The group expressed concern for the safety of Muslim leaders in particular and the sovereignty of Nigeria in general. It interrogated US goal of protecting Nigerian Christians and also called on Nigerian leaders to take hold of the nation's destiny.

‎‎This was contained in a statement circulated to the media on Friday, 6th February, 2026 by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.

‎‎The full statement reads:

‎‎"The United States of America confirmed three days ago that its troops were already on ground in Nigeria (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-military-says-some-forces-have-been-dispatched-nigeria-2026-02-03/).

‎‎"The Federal Government (FG) also confirmed this later on the same day (https://dailytrust.com/dhq-admits-us-troops-in-nigeria/?noamp=aavailable; https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/) although the Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, later said they were 'not combat forces' (https://businessday.ng/news/article/us-troops-in-nigeria-are-not-combat-forces-says-defence-minister/)

*‎‎"MURIC considers this development as an overreach and the secrecy surrounding US troop deployment to Nigeria disturbing. While we welcome cooperation between Nigeria and the US in the fight against terrorism, we do not think US boots on ground is necessary. In the first place, we regard it as a discriminatory, and selective response of the US to the question of religious persecution in Nigeria.*

“We assert that there is nothing like Christian genocide in Nigeria. What we have is terrorism, insecurity and religious persecution on both sides of Christians and Muslims and what we lack is religious tolerance.

“For greater clarity, Muslims in Southern Nigeria have been suffering from religious persecution in the hands of their Christian compatriots for decades if not centuries. These persecutions are legendary although the Nigerian authorities have turned deaf ears to their cries to date. But Southern Muslims have not taken it upon themselves to falsely accuse their Christian counterparts of ‘Muslim genocide’.

“The case of terrorism and other issues of insecurity are another cup of tea and it affects Nigerians of all faith. It therefore beggars belief that America, a nation regarded as the champion of democracy, freedom and equal rights will descend on Nigeria to selectively fight or ‘protect’ one group.

“If the US should promote democratic principles of freedom of religion in Nigeria at all, it has a moral duty not to be selective but to promote freedom for both Christians and Muslims who are in captivity. There should be no selective solutions to religious persecution anywhere in the world.

“If, therefore, it is true that US troops are already on ground in Nigeria, we demand that there should be no clampdown on religious activities of Muslims or on Muslim leaders. No Muslim leader should disappear or be assassinated and no renditions.

“We note that the Federal Government (FG) called the American forces on ground a 'small team'. But even that ‘small team’ of US troops in Nigeria amounts to the presence of a Christian Army in view of the emphasis given the goal of US invasion embodied in US President Trump's pre-strike and pre-US-troops’ deployment rhetoric (protecting Nigerian Christians).

“‎Against this backdrop, the perception of Nigerian Muslims (and the global Muslim community) concerning the presence of US troops in Nigeria would have been different if America's stated goal ab initio had been to protect law abiding Nigerians (including people of all faiths) to eliminate terrorists and to stop the spate of killings generally.

*“‎But the stated objective of protecting Christians only makes any American boot on ground in Nigeria a Christian Army (with all its implications). It also constitutes a threat to global peace as many people around the world, especially Muslims now see the presence of American troops in the country as an attempt to intimidate the Nigerian majority Muslim population.*

“Millions of Southern Muslims have been forcefully converted to Christianity, particularly in the South West while thousands of Muslims in the South East face the threat of death unless they converted to Christianity. A new video clip which emerged last week showed a Christian militant from the South East inciting Christians to kill any Muslim they see around. Hundreds of Muslims have been killed in the South East in the past ten years.

*“Those Muslims in Southern Nigeria who have persevered in the face of persecution in the hands of their Christian neighbours and those who have also resisted attempts at forced conversion will find it difficult to believe that the ‘small team’ of US troops is not a Christian Army eventually deployed to force them to accept Christianity at gun point unless America waters down its pro-Christian and anti-Muslim rhetoric by using such language that reflects respect for the dignity of Nigerian Muslims.*

“In the same way that mainstream Nigerian Muslims will not surrender to terrorism, we will not give in to imperialist intimidation. What is happening today is not different from neo-imperialist terrorism. Already, some Nigerian Christians have started using the presence of US troops in Nigeria to harass Muslims in the country. This is absolutely unacceptable (https://www-vanguardngr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/anti-terror-war-ex-militant-leader-warns-dokubo-gumi-over-reported-arrival-of-u-s-troops-in-nigeria/amp/).

While interviewing the son of a former Nigerian president who is a Muslim, an anchor lady on a popular Nigerian cable television network also said the US strike was targeted at Sokoto so as to emphasise the importance of a Christian cleric who lives in the city and to earn him more respect!

“We assert very firmly that Nigerian Muslims will hold the National Assembly (NASS) responsible for failing to ask the necessary questions. What part of the cooperation between Nigeria and the US necessitates the presence of US troops on Nigerian soil? Has the Nigerian Constitution been suspended? Was the NASS carried along? Why did the Federal Government (FG) fail to inform Nigerians about the plan? Who is paying for the operation, the accommodation of US troops, feeding, etc: Nigerian tax payers or US tax payers?

*“‎Before we exit from this conversation, we note that the conspiratorial silence from the Nigerian civil society, students bodies, workers unions, etc on the issue of American troops on Nigerian soil is baffling. If these groups are silent because of the assumption that America has come for Nigerian Muslims only, we remind them of the words of Martin Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor in the hands of N**i Germany.*

He said, ‘First they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists and I did not speak out
because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me’.

*“By the way, FG described the presence of the American troops in the country as a ‎'small' team of American soldiers. This description needs to be interrogated. How 'small' is 'small'?*


‎


‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

The U.S. has sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, the general in charge of the U.S. command for Africa said on Tuesday, the first acknowledgment of U.S. forces on the ground since Washington struck by air on Christmas Day.

05/02/2026

*‎MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*
‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين
‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence
‎
‎5th February, 2026
‎
‎PRESS RELEASE:

*‎210 MUSLIMS MASSACRED IN ONE DAY: MURIC KNOCKS CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE NARRATIVE*
‎
‎Sequel to the massacre of about 210 Muslims in Kwara and Katsina states yesterday, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused promoters of the Christian genocide narrative of being bad judges and Satanic referees for closing their eyes on the killing of large numbers of Muslims while concentrating on what happened to Christians only.
‎
‎MURIC's accusation was contained in a press release circulated on Thursday, 5th February, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
‎
‎The full press release reads:
‎
‎"About 175 Muslims were massacred in Woro town, Kwara State while another 35 Muslims were mercilessly shot and killed on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026 in Doma village, Faskari Local Government, Ruwangodiya Constituency in the Northern part of Katsina State
‎(https://www.straitstimes.com/world/gunmen-kill-nearly-200-in-nigerias-kwara-and-katsina-attacks).
‎
‎"We are appalled by these senseless killings. We demand full protection for Nigerians of all faiths and ethnicities. Every Nigerian deserves Allah-given fundamental human right to life.
‎
‎"Section 14(2)(b), Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says, 'The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government'. But Nigerian citizens are no longer safe. The killing of a single Nigerian is condemnable but what do we say when 210 citizens are massacred? This is one killing too many.
‎
*‎"We therefore call on the Federal Government (FG) to protect all its citizens, including Muslims, Christians and traditionalists. We will not be parochial like those who ignore the killing of Muslims and are calling for the protection of Christians alone. Every life matters to us. Every Nigerian should be protected no matter the faith.*
‎
‎"This is where America's vow and it's recurring refrain 'to protect Christians' alone in Nigeria assaults the psyche of the whole of humanity. It is petty, arrogant and disproportionately militant. America would have won the heart of the global community if it had declared an intention to stop indiscriminate killings in Nigeria but alas it came 'guns ablazing' to protect Christians only. This makes any American boot on ground in Nigeria a Christian Army with all its implications.
‎
‎"The latest massacre involving an astounding number of 210 Muslims has made a mince meat of the lopsided and malicious narratives of Christian genocide, particularly Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan's legal brief, Rev. Ezekiel Bwede Dachomo's superfluous dramatisation, the hysterical and hypocritical tirade from Christian leaders of North Central Nigeria and the Nigerian media hype of same.
‎
*‎"At the risk of sounding judgemental, all the above may be seen as bad judges and Satanic referees for closing their eyes on the killing of large numbers of Muslims while concentrating on what happened to Christians only.*
‎
‎"Now we must ask them all: is it still Christians alone who are being killed? We may also ask America, 'Is it Christian lives alone that matter? Are Muslims, Buddhists, Confucians, etc not homo sapiens? Won't the world as a whole be a safer place if all human beings are protected regardless of faith, race or colour?"
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‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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BAUCHI, Nigeria, Feb 4 - Nearly 200 people have been killed by armed men in separate attacks in remote villages in central and northern Nigeria, a local lawmaker, residents and police said on Wednesday, as security forces searched for survivors and chased the attackers. Read more at straitstimes.com...