MUSLIM IDENTITY OF KIDNAPPED MAGA GIRLS SHATTERS THE MYTH OF CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

DATE: 27^th November, 2025

‎PRESS RELEASE:

MUSLIM IDENTITY OF KIDNAPPED MAGA GIRLS SHATTERS THE MYTH OF CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE

‎

‎A Nigerian human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared that the myth of Christian genocide has been shattered by the disclosure of the Muslim identity of the 24 girls who were kidnapped from a school in Maga,  Kebbi State. 

‎‎MURIC made the claim in a statement issued on Thursday, 27^th November, 2025 by the group's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

‎‎The full statement reads:

‎‎"The myth of a Christian genocide in Nigeria was finally shattered yesterday when pictures of the kidnapped Maga girls surfaced online and on various television stations. All the girls were clad in hijab thereby revealing their Islamic faith. 

‎‎"It will be recalled that a United States Congressman, Rep. Riley M. Moore, had prematurely declared that the incident occurred in a Christian enclave of Kebbi State. Of course he was trying to persuade the world that the victims were Christians (https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/18/us-lawmaker-we-know-terrorists-abducted-nigerian-schoolgirls-christian-enclave-kebbi).

‎‎"It later turned out that the school was situated in a community entirely dominated by Muslims. This cements the fact that those describing killings in Nigeria as Christian genocide are acting on negative mindset and an arrogant commitment to stereotype Muslims and their religion. At the same time, it amplifies the fact that even the US which has threatened to invade Nigeria is either acting on the basis of wrong information or a predetermined and hidden agenda. 

‎‎Besides, the girl's names as released by the Federal Government (FG) belied the claim of Christian genocide and the so called 'targeted Christian attacks' as no single Christian name featured on the list (https://businessday-ng.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/businessday.ng/news/article/kebbi-governor-says-manga-not-a-christian-enclave-as-fg-releases-names-of-abducted-schoolgirls/).

‎‎"We therefore assert clearly, categorically and unequivocally that the use of the term 'Christian genocide' as far as what is presently going on in Nigeria is concerned is a myth, a mirage, a phantom and a sham. It does not exist. The scenario gravitates only in the imagination of its fabricators while the phrase surfaces only in the vocabulary of Islamophobes and Muslim haters. 

“As we prepare to dot our ‘i’s and cross our ‘t’s in this episode, we assure our Christian neighbours that the generality of Nigerian Muslims nurse no sinister thoughts towards them. Muslims are also being killed as they are being killed. It is just that we have been quiet about our own victims. We are enveloped in agony on two sides: Muslims who were killed or kidnapped as well as the false accusation that we are killing Christians. It has been salt upon injury.

‎‎"Nigerians must deduce one or two lessons from this stereotype scenario. America would have committed a grievous mistake if it had ordered a strike or an invasion of Nigeria on the basis of a false alarm by Rep Moore the same way it  invaded Iraq over a false 'weapons of mass destruction' (WMD) claim.

‎‎"The interesting part is that the US would still not have apologised for mistakenly killing innocent Nigerians the same way it is yet to own up decades after its invasion of Iraq.

‎‎"Our hypothesis is this: if America can be wrong about Iraq's WMD (and it was), if it can be wrong about the faith of Nigeria's Maga girls (and it is), it can also be absolutely misled about this Christian genocide narrative in Nigeria.

‎‎"The honourable path for the US to toe, therefore, is to check, cross-check and double-check this Christian genocide contraption so that it would not be misled into a Nigerian gunboat campaign that may end up with the War Secretary screaming like Paul Warfield Tibbets and Charles W. Sweeney did after dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 'My God!  What have we done?'"

‎#KidnappedMagaGirlsAreMuslims

‎#ChristianGenocideIsAMyth

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

CAN'S INVITATION, FASTING, PRAYERS TO BRING US TROOPS TO NIGERIA CALLOUS, NAIVE - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎26^th November, 2025

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎CAN'S INVITATION, FASTING, PRAYERS TO BRING US TROOPS TO NIGERIA CALLOUS, NAIVE - MURIC

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the insistence of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on calling the current state of insecurity in Nigeria as Christian genocide and its endorsement of a prospective US invasion of Nigeria as callous, mean, petty and naive. 

‎‎In a press release signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025, the group warned that CAN was pushing Nigeria into a dangerous phase by instigating the invasion of Nigeria by a crusading Western force.‎

‎MURIC's statement further said:‎

‎"Despite all evidence pointing to the killing of both Muslims and Christians by criminals, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has insisted on calling the current state of insecurity in Nigeria Christian genocide (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/there-is-christian-genocide-in-nigeria-can-insists/).‎

‎"Nay and more than that, CAN has implicitly endorsed US invasion of Nigeria. All those who wrote petitions to the US about Christian genocide are their members, and that includes Professor Joash Amupitan, the current chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  

“Even if there is no official statement on such invitation by CAN, at least there is evidence that a former president of the national Christian body, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, expressly endorsed US invasion of Nigeria about two weeks ago (https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1682497-ayokunle-accuses-government-neglecting-citizens-rising-killingsd/). Ayokunle’s endorsement has neither been debunked nor denied by CAN. This attitude is not only callous, it is mean, petty and naive. 

‎‎"The callousness and meanness arise from failure to think about country and fellow compatriots while its naivety springs from its shortsightedness and its exhibition of stark ignorance of international affairs particularly regarding the consideration of comparative implications with other countries the US has invaded before.

‎‎"CAN's insistence on labelling it 'Christian genocide' was again epitomized in a letter from its national headquarters dated 20th November, 2025 captioned 'Declaration of a One-Day Nationwide Prayer Against Christian Genocide in Nigeria'. 

‎"This prayer reminds us of CAN's countless prayers in the Jonathan days which culminated in the accusation by one of their prominent members that CAN  leadership collected seven billion naira from former President Goodluck Jonathan for prayers (https://www.nairaland.com/7246438/pastor-insists-jonathan-bribed-7). Only Allah knows how many billions CAN is eyeing with another round of prayers between now and February 2027.

‎‎"Recipients of the letter were urged to 'Kindly ensure that this prayer is taken with all fervency'. We are constrained to submit that CAN's choice of words like 'fervency' instigated its followers to take extreme measures. That was why a Christian cleric appeared in a video clip praying for the invasion of Nigeria by American troops. This is the height of religious bigotry, educated ignorance and certificated self-destruction.

‎‎"Advocates of American invasion of Nigeria cannot see beyond their noses. History recounts how the US invaded Mexico (1846-1848), the Philippines (1898-1910), Cuba (1898-1902), Iraq (1990-1991 and 2003-2011), Vietnam (1954; 1960-1975), Panama (1989), Grenada (1983-1984), Afghanistan (2001-2021), etc.

‎‎"How did those invasions benefit the countries? How will American invasion of Nigeria benefit Nigerians? We are still waiting to see if US troops will force Nigerian Muslims to convert to Christianity at gunpoint after CAN's fair and foul methods have failed to make the dream of 'Nigeria for Jesus' a fait accompli since all these years. Desperation, sometimes, can push people to extremes. 

‎‎"MURIC's greatest concern is that US invasion may radicalize and militarize hitherto disciplined and peace-loving Muslim youths in the country. That will be a sad development because we as a group and more than 95 percent of Muslims in Nigeria believe in dialogue.

‎‎"We warn that CAN is pushing Nigeria into a dangerous phase by instigating the invasion of the country by a crusading Western force.

‎‎"Nigerian Muslims condemn terrorism and detest all forms of violence. We are ready and willing to peacefully coexist with all other compatriots regardless of their faith or ethnicity. This is what we have been doing all along.

‎‎"It is absolutely wrong to judge the mainstream and larger group with the attitude of a misinformed, misguided and infinitesimally small minority that is waging terror attacks on innocent people as well as the larger group.

‎‎"We charge Nigerian Muslims and other right-thinking Nigerians to pray for peace, political stability and economic prosperity. We appeal to hitherto peaceful and law-abiding Muslim youths to remain good ambassadors of Islam. We pray that Allah should give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the wisdom as well as the moral and spiritual absorber mechanisms to navigate the stormy waters of present-day Nigeria. 

‎‎#CANPrayer

‎#CANPrayingForUSInvasion

‎#PrayForPeace

#PrayForNigeria

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). 

 

US DEAL: DON'T MAKE MUSLIMS SACRIFICIAL LAMBS - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎US DEAL: DON'T MAKE MUSLIMS SACRIFICIAL LAMBS - MURIC

‎

‎A faith-based civil liberty group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned the Federal Government (FG) that its recent deal with the United States of America must not make Muslims sacrificial lambs.  

‎MURIC's warning was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 25th November, 2025. It was signed by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎The statement reads:

‎"A high profile delegation of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has reportedly struck a security deal with the United States. According to the deal which was announced yesterday, Monday, 24th November, 2025, the two countries have agreed to work together in the areas of security technology and the provision of intelligence.

‎Emphasis was also laid, albeit by inference, on the protection of Christian populations in the North Central and offer of 'humanitarian assistance to the Middle Belt' without a similar commitment to badly affected communities in the North West and North East (https://prnigeria.com/2025/11/24/pledges-stronger-intelligence/).

‎"While we welcome this development, we frown at the fact that the assistance to be offered by the United States will be to Christians of the Middle Belt only. It is divisive, lopsided, partial and inhuman.

‎"If this happens, the one-sided gesture should compel the Nigerian government to seek help for affected Muslims in the North West and North East from countries like Malaysia, Pakistan, Kuwait, etc.

‎"The Muslim North is devastated as we speak. Its economy lies in ruins. FG is duty-bound to seek help for the Muslim North too because the same FG sought assistance 'for the Middle Belt', otherwise justice and fairness have not been served. But where will that lead our country?

"That is why we denounce the reference to the need to protect the North Central and its predominantly Christian population alone without a proportionate mention of the devastated Muslim populations of the North West and North East who have been the major victims of terrorism and banditry from day one of the emergence of reckless violence in Northern Nigeria.

‎"The agreement with the US must address the message, not the messenger.   We must assist both the Christian and Muslim victims regardless of where the affliction came from. That is humanity. That is when we act like homo sapiens compos mentis, not like religious bigots beclouded by acrobatic religiousity. Any partial handling of assistance will only divide Nigerians further, deepen hostilities and reopen wounds. It is not the way of healing.

‎"Security cooperation with the United States must be for all Nigerians, not just for Christians in North Central alone. It must be for both Muslim and Christian areas that have been subjected to terrorist and bandits' attacks. It must be for the whole North in particular and the rest of Nigeria in general. There must be no preferential protection for Christian dominated areas at the expense of Muslim concentrated zones. 

‎"In particular, we demand special protection for Muslims living in Christian dominated areas like Plateau and Benue where Muslims have been killed in their thousands and their properties destroyed.

‎"In like manner, we seek protection for Muslims in Southern Nigeria, particularly in the South East where they have been killed in large numbers and their mosques burnt down. 

‎"Equally important is the need for the enforcement of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims in the South West where Christian-led governmens and their officials blatantly violate the rights of Muslims, disrespect the rule of law and disobey court rulings with reckless impunity.

‎"In short, Muslims must not be turned into sacrificial lambs under the pressure of a crusading Western power and an asymmetrical, tendentious, parochial, Muslim-bashing,  cassock-wearing press that is neck-deep in gymnastic religiousity.

‎"We also advise FG not to put all of Nigeria's eggs in one basket. We must continue to seek security cooperation from other foreign powers as we have been doing before."

#USNigeriaDeal

‎#ProtectAllNigerians

‎#AssistAllViolenceVictims

‎#TerrorismHasNoReligion

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

‎ MURIC TO FG: IS AMUPITAN A SACRED COW? – MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎MOTTO: DIALOGUE, NOT VIOLENCE

24^th November, 2025

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎

‎ MURIC TO FG: IS AMUPITAN A SACRED COW? – MURIC

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a faith-based civil liberties organization, has again demanded the removal of the newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan who has been accused of writing the legal brief to the United States on Christian genocide in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday, 24^th November, 2025, the Executive Director of the human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, asked the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) why the new INEC boss has not been removed since the revelation of his unpatriotic, costly and dastardly act three weeks ago.

The full statement reads:

“It will be recalled that in our press statement of 10^th November, 2025, we demanded the removal of the newly appointed INEC boss, Professor Joash Amupitan who was accused of writing the legal brief to the United States on Christian genocide in Nigeria.

“Earlier on, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) and the Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN) made the same demand (https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/08/breaking-nigerian-shariah-council-asks-tinubu-immediately-sack-inec-chairman-prof; https://thedefenderngr.com/another-nigerias-islamic-group-demands-sack-of-amupitan-as-inec-chairman/).

“Apart from these Islamic organisations, many other groups made the same call, including the Voice of Liberty Nigeria (https://voiceoflibertyng.com/group-demands-inec-chairmans-resignation-over-divisive-2020-legal-brief/) and the Concerned Citizens for Peace, Justice, and Democratic Integrity (https://emergencydigest.com/2025/11/14/inec-petitions-tinubu-amupitan/).

“To the best of our knowledge, the new INEC boss has not denied authorship of the false, controversial, divisive and mischievous legal brief to America. Neither has FG. Yet the latter has maintained a curious silence on this very sensitive matter. Is FG waiting for a chance to bury this matter when other burning issues overtake it? Is Amupitan a sacred cow?”  

#ChristianGenocide

#AmupitanLegalBrief

‎#AmupitanMustGo

‎#NoSacredCow

#FGDoTheNeedful

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

REPORT ON CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE TO TRUMP: SACK AMUPITAN NOW - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

هيئة حقوق المسلمين

MOTTO: DIALOGUE, NOT VIOLENCE

10th November, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

REPORT ON CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE TO TRUMP: SACK AMUPITAN NOW - MURIC

Sequel to revelations that the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, allegedly wrote the legal brief to the United States on Christian genocide in Nigeria, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has demanded the immediate sack of the INEC boss. 

The demand was made in a statement issued on Monday, 10th November, 2025 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

The full statement reads:

 "The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) yesterday alleged that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, authored a legal brief on Christian genocide in Nigeria which was sent to the United States ( https://thedefenderngr.com/sack-amupitan-now-nigerian-sharia-council-tells-tinubu-says-hes-unfit-to-head-inec-from-biased-position/). The Council therefore demanded his removal.

"This revelation is shocking, astounding and petrifying. It adds another dangerous dimension to the US threat of invasion.

"A man who authored the hate letter to President Donald Trump about Muslims of Northern Nigeria cannot be expected to be fair in overseeing elections in Nigeria, particularly general elections and gubernatorial elections.

"Amupitan as INEC boss poses a potent threat to Muslim candidates of North Central Nigeria in particular and of the rest of the country in general in any election held in Nigeria.

"From the moment this disclosure was made, Amupitan has become persona non grata in Muslim circles in election matters. We hereby declare our total, complete and categorical loss of confidence in him as INEC boss. 

"Concomitantly, we hereby call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sack Professor Joash Amupitan.

"We suggest that any other qualified person with national spread of acceptance, preferably of the same faith with Amupitan but from another geopolitical zone be picked to replace him."

#LetterOnChristianGenocide

#SackAmupitanNow

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

ABDUCTION OF 25 SCHOOL GIRLS: MURIC CALLS FOR DECISIVE ACTION

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

19^th November, 2025

‎PRESS RELEASE:

ABDUCTION OF 25 SCHOOL GIRLS: MURIC CALLS FOR DECISIVE ACTION

 

Sunday to Monday, the 16th – 17th of November, 2025 are the saddest days in Kebbi State in recent time. 

The killing of peaceful citizens in Makirin village and mass abductions of 25 female students at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, have created a climate of disbelief, uncertainty and shock. MURIC finds this disturbing, barbaric and inhumane. 

Two tragic incidents occurred in the spate of 24 hours in Kebbi State. The Ameer of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Yauri Area Council, Malam Alqasim Uthman Ibrahim, was  kidnapped earlier in the day. But he was killed within a few hours. 

The sad news was immediately followed by the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State. 

MURIC Kebbi State chapter strongly condemns these criminal acts. They are egregious, callous and cowardly. They constitute grave violation of human rights, an assault on education and a huge threat to national security.

We equally denounce the gruesome killing of the vice principal, a Muslim, Mallam Hassan Makuku and the injury inflicted on the school’s guard. We stand in solidarity with the abducted girls, their families, teachers, and the entire community.

MURIC calls on the Federal Government, Kebbi state government and all relevant security agencies to intensify and sustain search-and-rescue operations, leveraging on intelligence, military, police, and local resources. The Presidential directive to the security agencies to locate and bring back the abducted students safely, and to prosecute those responsible must not be taken with levity. Citizens must see reason to trust in the government’s capacity to protect its citizens.

It is laughable that some people have said that the unfortunate incident occurred in a 'Christian enclave'. That is far from the truth. There is actually no Christian enclave as such in Kebbi. The vice principal who was killed was a Muslim. People can also see from television footages that the parents who have been visiting the school since the incident are all clad in hijab. They are Muslims. 

The federal government needs to treat banditry especially mass kidnappings, as a top-tier national security threat, not just a localized criminal matter. We want to lay emphasis on the need for the government to ensure that those who carried out the abduction as well as their collaborators are arrested and prosecuted. 

The legislative arm of government must strengthen the executive by enacting laws that will ensure punitive measures against banditry to act as a deterrent. Kidnapping for ransom must be met with clear and certain consequences. The judiciary should ensure the smooth administration of justice within a reasonable time using all judicial tools at its disposal. The executive must ensure that judgements are executed on the offenders no matter whose ox is gored.

We specifically call on Kebbi State Government to strengthen coordination with it’s neigbours (especially Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger) to close safe routes used by bandits, since they often cross state lines. This should include enhancing the role of local hunter groups who know the terrain and can support rescue and patrol efforts. 

We enjoin the government to deploy security personnel (military, police, and community vigilantes) to vulnerable border schools and remote communities, especially in areas with high risks of bandits’ incursions. Governments at all levels need to encourage community reporting in such a way that residents must feel safe and empowered to provide intelligence to security agencies.

We request that government and well-to-do individuals should provide support for the affected families: trauma counseling, educational support to the affected families.

Most importantly, however, Imams should activate alqunut prayers in all our mosques for peaceful repose of those killed, safe return of the abducted and continuous peace and tranquility in Kebbi State and the nation at large.

To the religious extremists and other politically motivated groups, as well as ethnic jingoists, they should know that this incident happened in a Muslim-dominated area. The abduction is a purely criminal action that has no religious or ethnic dimension.

 This is not the time for playing politics or for exhibiting religious extremism. What is needed now is well coordinated and concerted efforts from all and sundry that will salvage Nigeria from the current crisis. We believe that solution must come from within Nigeria itself. We believe in the country’s capacity to navigate itself from the crisis.

In conclusion, MURIC reiterates that the abduction of these 25 school girls in GGCSS, Maga, Kebbi state must not be seen as a local or isolated tragedy, it is a national crisis that demands urgent, decisive, and sustained action. We call on all stakeholders — government, security agencies, civil society and community leaders to respond with the seriousness and coordination that this moment demands. The safe return of these girls, and the prevention of future attacks, is not negotiable. 

We pray that Allah will ameliorate our sufferings, return our country to safety and bless us with peace and stability.

#ReturnMagaGirls

Dr. Abdullahi Bello Umar

Chairman, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 

Kebbi State Chapter.