18/08/2026
EYN President Demands Arrest of Sheikh Jingir Over Religious Hate Speech, Urges Release of Abducted Schoolchildren
The President of EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Rev. Daniel Y. C. Mbaya, PhD, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take legal action against Islamic clerics Sheikh Yahaya Jingir and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over statements he described as inflammatory, unacceptable and capable of promoting religious hatred in Nigeria.
Rev. Mbaya made the call during the ordination of Evangelist Friday Nanbol and Evangelist Daniel Saleh as probationary ministers of EYN.
The two evangelists were unable to participate in the ordination conducted on March 25, 2026, during the 79th General Church Council, known as the 79th Majalisa, and were subsequently ordained during a separate ceremony.
The EYN President strongly condemned a statement attributed to Sheikh Yahaya Jingir that Nigeria is a Muslim country and that a Muslim-Muslim ticket was intended to demonstrate to Christians that they are a minority.
Rev. Mbaya described the reported statement as “careless, unacceptable and hate speech” and called on the Federal Government to investigate the remarks and take appropriate legal action.
“As a President, we reject and condemn in strong terms the speech by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir,” he said.
He also referenced statements attributed to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, urging the government to address what he described as inflammatory religious rhetoric.
Rev. Mbaya said Christians are peaceful citizens who have contributed to Nigeria’s development and urged religious leaders not to teach their followers, particularly children, to hate people of other faiths.
“Christians are peaceful people in Nigeria. We contribute to the growth of the nation,” he said.
Call for release of abducted schoolchildren
The EYN President also appealed to President Tinubu to intensify efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from M***a and Lassa.
He urged the Federal Government to prior
