MURIC LAMPOONS LAGOS GOVT FOR ABANDONING COLLAPSED MOSQUE VICTIM IN HOSPITAL, LEGS AMPUTATED

 

31^st May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC LAMPOONS LAGOS GOVT FOR ABANDONING COLLAPSED MOSQUE VICTIM IN HOSPITAL, LEGS AMPUTATED

 

The badly injured leg of one of the victims of the collapsed mosque at Mushin, Lagos, have been amputated. The second leg is due for amputation today. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticized the Lagos State Government for failing to show concern even after it had been revealed that its bulldozer pulled down the mosque.

 

This was revealed in a statement issued on Friday, 31^st May, 2024 by the Executive Director of the human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads:

 

“An anonymous caller informed us on Friday morning that the condition of one of the victims of the Al-Mutmahinat Central Mosque located at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos State, which collapsed on Sunday, 26^th May, 2024, has deteriorated.

 

“According to the whistle-blower, the victim’s two legs are in such bad shape that one was amputated yesterday (Thursday 30^th May, 2024). The caller also added that the second leg would be cut off today (Friday 31^st May). He lamented that no government official has shown up at all since the victim, a young girl by name Naeemat Lasisi, 13 years, was brought to the hospital. She is now lying helpless in the Orthopaedic Ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

 

“MURIC calls out the Lagos State Government (LASG) for this act of criminal negligence, official irresponsibility and inhuman callousness. LASG bulldozer pulled down the mosque where this little girl was badly injured. Another little girl, Anifat Yusuf, died immediately while about fifteen (15) other worshippers sustained various degrees of injuries. Yet LASG did not deem it fit to empathise with little Naeemat Lasisi.

 

“We hereby warn LASG to take responsibility over all those who were hospitalized as a result of the collapsed mosque at Mushin. We as an organization do not engage in violence. Our motto is ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’. Neither do we issue threats. But we know our onions and we assure LASG that our action over this issue will speak louder than our voice in view of the government’s lackadaisical attitude.

 

“MURIC calls on Muslims in Lagos State and all men of conscience, particularly the Lagos Muslim Community and the Joint Muslim Forum of Lagos State to take note of the attitude of the state government on the collapsed mosque and its Muslim victims, both dead and injured.

 

“We charge conscious Muslims, particularly members of MURIC in Lagos State, to brace up for a prolonged, purposeful yet peaceful agitation on the collapsed mosque and justice for its dead and injured victims. Freedom is not offered on a platter of gold, it is won through struggle and it is those who dare to struggle that dare to win. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

 

“We remind LASG that Muslims in the state have suffered enough in its hands. We have been politically marginalized, economically debilitated and socially ostracized and now we are being killed inside our mosques while the state government maintains deadly silence. But Muslims in the state have taken their destiny in their hands and it can no longer be business as usual. The issue of the collapsed Mushin mosque and its dead and injured victims will be diligently pursued using every legitimate means available.”

 

#MushinCollapsedMosque

#MuslimLivesMatter

#DeceasedAnifatYusuf

#AmputatedNaeematLasisi

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

COLLAPSED MOSQUE: MURIC VISITS SITE, TENDERS 5 DEMANDS

 

29^th May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

COLLAPSED MOSQUE: MURIC VISITS SITE, TENDERS 5 DEMANDS

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has visited the site of the mosque which collapsed on Sunday at Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos State. The group also sent a delegation to the home of the bereaved family and made five demands which include the rebuilding of the mosque by the Lagos State Government (LASG) within six months and compensation for parents of the victim.

 

The demands were made public in a statement issued on Tuesday, 28^th May, 2024 by the Executive Director of the human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said:

 

“Following the tragic accident in which the Al-Mutmahinat Central Mosque, situated at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos State on Sunday, 26^th May, 2024, MURIC sent a powerful delegation which visited the site the next day, Monday, 27^th May, 2024. Our team interacted with the Imam of the mosque and visited the home of the deceased victim to offer condolences.

 

“MURIC’s 3-man delegation was led by the chairman of MURIC in LAGOS State, Dr. Busari Jamiu Muhammad. They met the Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Lukman Qasim Olokuta. They also visited the house of the victim and commiserated with the bereaved parents.

 

“Contrary to the common belief that three people died as a result of the accident, our delegation found out that only one person died. The victim was Anifat Yusuf, eleven, who was one of the students of the Arabic school in the mosque who were billed to graduate (walimah) in August this year.

 

“The late Anifat Yusuf was also a JSS 2 student of The Ultimate Secondary School, a private School at Ashofihan Street, Olorunshogo, Mushin. She had entered the mosque briefly to observe Zuhr, the first afternoon salat but, unfortunately, she never came out alive.

 

“Of course we also fell victim of the bloated number but we have to correct the figure now as a disciplined organization, particularly after our fact-finding mission came back to tell us that only one person died.

 

“Although we forwarded about three demands in our first statement on the tragedy, these have since been harmonized with suggestions from concerned Muslims. In view of the fact that the excavator which caused the calamity was working on the road expansion project embarked upon on that street by LASG, we now review our demands as follows:

 

“That LASG should:

 

1.  Rebuild the mosque within six months without reducing its original size and without compromising its standard;

2.  Pay adequate compensation for families left behind by the bread winners killed in the accident;

3.  Pay the hospital bills of the injured;

4.  Refund burial expenses of the eleven year-old girl who died and

5.  Arrange for the welfare of the Imam of the mosque and his family until the mosque has been rebuilt, handed over to the community and become functional.

 

“MURIC is (and will continue to be) in constant consultation with the mosque’s Imam to ensure that these demands are met. The right to life is an Allah-given fundamental human right which has been vicariously denied this little girl, late Anifat Yusuf, by an agent of LASG.

 

“Anifat’s father died five years ago and her mother, a widow of five years, has now lost the daughter whom she was hoping would one day be her bread winner, her succour and her companion. She is now alone facing not only the excruciating pains of a mother who lost a mature daughter but also the harsh realities of Nigeria’s galloping inflation.

 

“This widow’s home at 25, Bello Street, Papa Ajao, which used to be filled with laughter, is now the abode of sorrow, tears, desolation and misery. LASG must take responsibility. Anifat must not die in vain.

 

“Besides, a whole Muslim community whose only Central Mosque has been pulled down by an erratic excavator driver is now rendered mosqueless. They have become spiritual Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or, more correctly, Internally Displaced Worshippers (IDWs).

 

“Only Allah knows how they have been managing to observe the daily prayers since the tragedy three days ago but, more importantly, they must start looking around from today to find the nearest mosque where they will observe the next Jumuah prayer.

 

“LASG must therefore move quickly to rebuild the mosque. Our mosque is of great significance to us. It is not just where we worship Allah and listen to sermons, it is the house of Allah. It is our brotherhood shelter, our common room, information dissemination centre, counselling centre, education centre, consolation point, our strong room, our engine room and even more.

 

“The mosque is the Muslim centre of gravity. We cannot afford to have it missing for long. Internal agitation may soon grow into external anxieties and there is a limit to the influence which the mosque management and local Muslim leaders can exert on the restless Muslim youths in the area who have started asking questions.

 

“We can expect prolonged patience in any other area or areas of Lagos, but not in Mushin. This is the hotbed of activism in Lagos State. LASG must therefore ensure that this mosque is ready in six months. November 2024 is the deal. Let’s hear the response of LASG loud and clear: Deal?

 

#JusticeForAnifat

#PapaAjaoCentralMosque

#OurMosquesMatter

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

LAGOS COLLAPSED MOSQUE MURIC CHARGES LASG TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

 

PRESS RELEASE:

LAGOS COLLAPSED MOSQUE MURIC CHARGES LASG TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

The Lagos State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condoled with the Muslim community of Papa Ajao in Mushin area of Lagos State over the collapse of Sooro Mosque, the Papa Ajao Central Mosque which reportedly claimed the lives of three worshippers with several injured after it was hit by an excavation machine during the Zuhr prayer in afternoon of Sunday, 26th May 2024.

In a condolence message released on Monday, 27th May 2024, the Chairman of MURIC in Lagos State sympathized with the bereaved families and the injured faithfuls who were on duty to answer the calls of their Creator before the unexpected occurred. He also called for an investigation.

The statement reads:

"It was with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we received the news of the collapsed mosque and the resultant death of three Muslims in Papa Ajao. We sincerely condole with the families of the victims and the Lagos Muslim community.

According to several reports and eyewitness accounts, the mosque, which is located on Yusuf Street collapsed as a result of excavation by the Lagos State Government in a bid to expand the road.

"We therefore call on the Lagos State government to investigate the incident. The lives and properties of citizens are paramount and the government must always put in place necessary protection for the populace whenever a construction is embarked upon especially in a crowded area. There must be careful assessment of the road to be constructed and the likely risk faced by buildings which have domiciled in the area for decades. Life is sacred and it has no duplicate, therefore, adequate studies prior to the construction work is inevitable.

“Should the report above be true and the road expansion is found to have been ordered by the Lagos State Government (LASG), we demand adequate compensation for families left behind by the bread winners killed in the accident. LASG must also pay the hospital bills of the injured as well as burial expenses of those who died.

 

“MURIC is in possession of a video clip that has gone viral showing the excavator machine at the scene of the accident minutes after it occurred. We charge LASG to take responsibility without much fuss. In addition, LASG has a moral and legal duty to reconstruct the mosque within a reasonable period.  

"Lastly, we pray for the repose of the souls of our brethren who lost their lives to this ugly incident. They are Allah's visitors and Muslim heroes who dedicated their lives to worshipping their Creator. May Allah be pleased with them all. We pray that Allah will accept their returns as faithful servants and admit them into blissful paradise as martyrs.

"We equally pray for the injured ones, May Almighty Allah grant them quick recovery.

#PrayforLagosMartyrs

Dr. Busari Jamiu Muhammad
Chairman, MURIC, Lagos State Chapter

 

KANO CRISIS: STOP GOVS FROM DEPOSING KINGS - MURIC

 

26^th May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

KANO CRISIS: STOP GOVS FROM DEPOSING KINGS - MURIC

 

As the ancient city of Kano boils over the dethronement of five emirs and reinstatement of another, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded the repeal of laws that empower governors to dethrone traditional rulers in Nigeria for sanity to prevail.

 

The demand was made in a statement issued on Sunday, 26th May, 2024 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

According to MURIC:

 

"The city of Kano is currently embroiled in crisis as the state governor, Abba Yusuf, deposed five emirs and reinstated Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who was dethroned as emir of Kano on Monday, 9^th March 2020. 

 

"A court injunction seeking to stop the reinstatement of Sanusi was sidestepped and the governor ordered the arrest of the emir, Aminu Ado Bayero. But in a dramatic twist, security agencies, including the army, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) beefed up security in Aminu Ado Bayero's palace to disallow his arrest. 

 

"MURIC is shocked by these developments. It is not only embarrassing but confusing and that is to say the least as we struggle to restrain ourselves from going into any explosive outburst. Politicians are out to debilitate, destabilize and finally dismantle the traditional system. The governors have bastardised the traditional system the same way they messed up the local government system all over the country. 

 

"The show of power in Kano in the last 48 hours are symptomatic of a serious decay and big threat to our nascent democracy. Traditional rulers are made victims of political intrigues and the fear of the total collapse of traditional values hangs above our heads like the sword of Damocles. 

 

"It is an open secret that governors act with politics at the back of their minds. We strongly condemn the way and manner two governors, past and present, have turned the revered stool of the ancient city of Kano into a tool for ping-pong game and our traditional rulers who should be respected by the governors are now being pushed hither and thither. 

 

"It is not a Kano affair alone. The South West, South East and other parts of the North have witnessed deposition of traditional rulers. 

 

"The position of MURIC has always been that governors should no longer be allowed to dethrone traditional rulers and we have ventilated this campaign on several occasions ( e.g. https://theeagleonline.com.ng/muric-urges-state-lawmakers-to-save-kings-from-arbitrary-dethronement/; https://dailytrust.com/muric-seek-immunity-for-sultan-from-deposition/; https://thenews-chronicle.com/liberate-traditional-rulers-from-the-tyranny-of-politicians-muric/).

 

"The naked dance in the market place currently going on in Kano has made it more imperative for Nigerians to rise against the excesses of governors. It is time we demand from our lawmakers to immunise traditional rulers from disgraceful, untimely, unnecessary and politically motivated dethronements. This campaign should be taken up in all the 36 state houses of assembly. The law which empowers governors to depose kings should be repealed. 

 

"That will not necessarily make the traditional rulers all powerful. Traditional rulers who misbehave can still be sanctioned by the kingmakers. He can be suspended or dethroned but it will be by his own people. The kingmakers are enough for the king as checks and balances.

 

"MURIC appeals to all stakeholders in the Kano imbroglio to tread softly. They should desist from making inflammable statements.

 

"All sides in the saga have gone to the extreme. The deposition of Emir Sanusi in 2020 allegedly for insurbordination was an extreme measure. But ordering the arrest of Emir Ado Bayero after his removal is high-handed particularly without stating his crime. Revenge is a wild dish and the path of moderation is the path of decency. This is a democracy and the days of l'etat c'est moi are far gone. 

 

 "While we call on Kano citizens to remain calm, we appeal to the security agencies to avoid confrontation. Kano must not burn."

 

#Kano

#ImmuniseKingsFromDeposition

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC HAILS HIJAB VICTORY IN IBADAN COURT

 

22^nd May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS HIJAB VICTORY IN IBADAN COURT

 

The State High Court sitting at Challenge, Ibadan, yesterday delivered judgement in favour of MURIC and Muslim parents in the case between the International School, Ibadan, Muslim parents and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). 

 

In a swift reaction after the judgement, MURIC described the court's pronouncement as profound, cerebral and arcane.

 

This was contained in a statement issued immediately after the judgement on Wednesday, 22^nd May, 2024 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

"History was made when the State High Court 6 sitting at Challenge, Ibadan, yesterday delivered judgement in favour of MURIC and Muslim parents in the case between the International School, Ibadan Muslim parents and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). 

 

"It will be recalled that Muslim parents of the International School, Ibadan, led by Alhaji Abdul Rahman Balogun, a veteran journalist, took the authorities of the school to court when eight female Muslim students were sent out of the school for wearing hijab in November 2018. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) asked to be joined in the case (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/298906-parents-sue-international-school-ibadan-over-hijab-controversy.html?tztc=1). 

 

"The case dragged for six years before the judgement, which was in favour of the Muslims, was delivered yesterday, Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024.

 

"The court held that the refusal of International School, Ibadan, to allow the female Muslim students to wear hijab on their school uniform is wrongful, unconstitutional, null and void. The learned judge, Honourable Justice M.O Ishola, insisted that the school is a multi-religious public institution. 

 

"This is a monumental judgement coming from Ibadan, the heart of Yorubaland. It is a game changer. It is our hope that our Christian neighbors, overzealous civil servants and recalcitrant teachers will respect this judgement. 

 

"In any case, MURIC will not stand akimbo while Muslim children are subjected to illegal instructions particularly those that encroach on their rights as Muslims. We are fully prepared to amass incontestable evidence against anyone who molests Muslim students. It is no longer business as usual for religious fanatics among school teachers, conscienceless government officials and Muslim haters.

 

“It is a shame that the same people who claim to be civilized are neck-deep in tramadolised religiousity that they make such a huge mountain out of ordinary molehill just to get at Muslim children. Muslims in Britain, America and Canada did not go to court before they could wear hijab in schools and public places.

 

“But the so-called merchants of ‘tolerance’ find it difficult to tolerate the Muslim headscarf unless the Muslims go to court first to fight for their civil liberties. At long last, victory has come to the Muslims. Triumph is sweetest when served cold. There is no scintilla of doubt that the victory in this court judgement after a period of six years has laid in the cold long enough.

 

“Where will the oppressors run to now, particularly since there is a favourable Supreme Court pronouncement on hijab? If they run to the sea, the sea will be boiling. If they run to the mountains, the mountains will be falling. Whither runneth thou, oh Herod?

 

"MURIC salutes Muslim parents of the International School for their doggedness. Their leader, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Balogun, deserves a medal. The tenacity of our lawyers, Hasan Fajimite and Yusuf Anikulapo won the legal onslaught. But above all, we doff our hats to Honourable Justice M.O. Ishola for the depth of his research and the fearlessness and fairness of his pronouncements.

 

“We certainly hail this judgement. It is profound, cerebral and arcane.”

 

#HijabJudgementIbadan

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).