PRESS RELEASE:
PLANNED
CRUSADE TO BOMB CHRISTIANS IS FAKE NEWS
In a press statement issued on Monday 21st January, 2019, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described the message as fake news and advised Nigerian Christians to ignore it. The statement was signed by the director and founder of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“We are aware of a message now trending among Christians on social media. The message which was meant for Nigerian Christians only was leaked to MURIC through a patriotic and true Christian, reads:
To all
Christians: please tell all the Christians brethren (sic) around
You not to
attend the crusade with the title *we are one*. It's said that
the crusade
is planned by Muslim leaders and it will be holding in all
the states in
Nigeria at the same day and time. They will use a popular
and well
respected pastor in a state as a guest speaker in the crusade in
other (sic)
to gather people. Their intention is to bomb all Christians at
ones (sic)
in other for them to archive (sic) their Islamisation agenda.
One of the
elder (name withheld for security) who is not in support of
the plan has
just made this known to the head of ... (name of Christian
mission
deleted by us). Please pass this info to at least 20 people in your
contact as
the crusade is just few weeks away. The Lord will hold you
responsible
for any life lost through this evil attack if you refuse to share
this info’.
“This is a blatant,
wicked and diabolical lie. We assure Christians in Nigeria that there is no
such plan. It exists only in the figment of imagination of the devilish authors.
It is the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria. We cannot rule out disgruntled politicians,
particularly looters who are afraid of being exposed. They are looking for all
means of causing pandemonium so that the authorities will be too preoccupied
with searching for peace to have time for bringing them to book.
“In the same vein,
we urge Nigerians to ignore another rumour concerning the hijab. Fake news
mongers claim that Muslims in the South West are advocating for the use of
hijab by their women and female school children because Muslims plan to launch
terrorist attacks. They said the hijab would serve as special identity for
Muslims so that the attackers would not attack them.
“This is atrocious. It
is far from the truth. It is also illogical, false, baseless and unfounded.
Nigerians should not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by rumour mongers. How
is this possible? If the hijab is to serve the purpose of identifying Muslim
women in the event of a terrorist attack, what of the Muslim men? If the attack
is to happen in schools, what of the male Muslim students? How will the terrorists
identify Muslim male students so as not to attack them? It is sheer bunkum,
balderdash and poppycock twaddle.
“We urge both
Christians and Muslims in the country to go about their businesses without any
fear. This is the time to come together putting our heads under the same
thinking cap for the sake of our country. Election period is a sensitive time
and we should do everything we can to avoid anything capable of undermining the
security of the nation.
“Nigerians should
ignore baseless information particularly those that have security implication
around this time. Any information which cannot be verified should be ignored.
Adherents of the two major religions should follow the teachings of their faith
regarding fake news. The Qur’an commands Muslims to investigate information
before taking any action so that innocent people will not be hurt (Qur’an
49:6). The Bible also urges Christians to ‘Investigate all matters and hold on
to the truth’ (II Corinthians 5:19 -20).
“We share the same
destiny in this country and we should stick together in the interest of peace
and progress. Where are the peddlers of hate and animosity today? Where are
those who said we should not vote for Muslims? Where are those who said we
should not vote for Fulanis? They should hide their faces in shame. The last
time we checked, the candidates of the two major parties (APC and PDP) are
still Muslims. Fulani blood also flows in their veins.
“Those agent provocateur ended up in a cul de sac because both President
Muhammadu Buhari and former vice president Atiku Abubakar are Muslims and
full-blooded Fulanis. It goes to prove further the folly in acrobatic
religiousity and articulated ethnicity. We should allow merit to decide who
will rule us. The criteria should not be religion. Neither should it be tribe.
We should seek noble criteria like integrity, credibility, antecedence, etc.
On a last note, we
charge Nigerian Christians to ignore rumours of Muslims planning a grand
crusade with the intention of killing all Christians in Nigeria. The rumour of
Muslim women using hijab for protection in case of a terrorist attack is also
fake news. Nigerian Muslims love their neighbours and they wish to coexist
peacefully with all regardless of creed or tribe.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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