NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS USING US POWER TO BULLY FG, MUSLIMS - MURIC

 

21^st October, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS USING US POWER TO BULLY FG, MUSLIMS - MURIC

 

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alleged that Nigerian Christian leaders are using the United States (US) as a Christian superpower to bully the Federal Government (FG) and also to subjugate Nigerian Muslims.

 

The group claimed that the report of Christian genocide was sent to the US because the latter is a Christian nation. It also wondered why Christian leaders did not contemplate reporting FG to the African Union or the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), our closest neighbours, if the intention was not entitlement and domination via neo-imperialism.

 

In a statement circulated to the media on Tuesday, 22^nd October, 2025 by the Executive Diractor of the Islamic human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC warned that the Nigerian government must neither succumb to blackmail nor make Nigerian Muslims its guinea pig.

 

Full details:

 

“We have followed the current controversy over the allegation that it is only Christians that are being killed in Nigeria (otherwise called Christian genocide) with deep concern.

 

“It is noteworthy that Nigerian Muslims also complain of similar and even greater number of killings, although nobody appears to be listening. Perhaps this is because we live in a world where the narratives are controlled by a Christo-Western media both locally and internationally.  

 

“In our own opinion, what is happening is that terrorists and other criminals find it easy to attack soft targets, particularly where there are crowds. Their target is not any religious group. This is why they attack churches and mosques. It is where they can get the largest assembly of hostages. This also explains why the main victims in Christian concentrated areas like Benue and Plateau states are always Christians while the victims in Muslim concentrated areas like Sokoto and Zamfara are always Muslims.

 

“Churches are also not the only places of worship that are attacked. Mosques are also attacked. While only 200 churches were destroyed across Northern Nigeria, about 6,000 mosques were demolished in the same zone. It is simply because there are more mosques in the zone than churches. This is the plain truth.

 

“Meanwhile Muslims in Southern Nigeria face systematic persecution, denial and marginalisation. Their complaints go unheeded because both the state and federal governments of Nigeria as well as the global community are more interested in the welfare of Christian populations. 

 

“The media's complicity can be seen from the way the killing of Christians are amplified while that of Muslims is trivialized. Christian victims are reported as 'Christians' with the faith of victims clearly identified. On the contrary, the killing of Muslims even inside mosques is reported in such ambiguous and vague manners with words like 'worshippers', 'audience', etc. 

 

“Therefore, what we have today is Nigerian Christians hiding under the umbrella of the United States (US), a country known for bullying Muslim nations around the world. The intention is to armtwist FG to forcefully secure undeserved political and economic favours for Christians.

 

“This is apart from using such a report to bully Nigerian Muslims since they know that there is no single powerful Muslim nation in the world to whom Nigerian Muslims can take their case. Nigerians may find a lot to learn here from Magner Redbeard’s book of 1896, ‘Might Is Right’.

 

“Yes, might is right, otherwise what moral right has America to judge Nigeria and its government after its disgraceful and audacious funding and arming of genocidal Israel? More than 68,000 people were killed in Gaza under the watchful eyes of America. 8 million people staged ‘No Kings’ protest against President Donald Trump in the United States yesterday. They were vehemently opposed to Trump’s authoritarianism.

 

“If Americans see Trump as a tyrant and a dictator, by what moral parameter can anyone justify Trump’s attempt to judge Nigeria after bastardising democratic tenets in his own country? Following the same logic, is it not moral bankruptcy that can make anyone report Nigeria to America, least of all to Trump?

 

“This development helps to buttress the belief that tyranny, oppression and persecution reign supreme in our world today. But it hurts to find the Nigerian press oiling this machinery of falsehood.

 

“MURIC will be doing gross injustice to itself if it fails to speak on the partiality and lopsidedness of the Nigerian media, except for very few. We have watched in consternation in the past few weeks as Christian radio and television anchors demonised Muslims and the faith of Islam while they idolized Christianity. Only Christian guests and commentators were invited to their studios. To them, Muslims are persona non grata. They lambasted Muslims over the so-called Christian genocide.

“Why were Muslims not invited to narrate their own side of the story? What happened to the press principle of audi alteram partem (i.e. hear from the other side)? Is this professional? Some sections of the Nigerian press may not have passed the integrity test, particularly in the Christian genocide controversy.

“We declare that all this story about Christian genocide is an attempt to railroad the Nigerian government into doubling the pampering of its Christian population and further distance itself from the Muslims who are already marginalized, oppressed and persecuted. It is about unhealthy religious rivalry and total domination.

 

“It has become the habit of Nigerian Christian leaders to rush to America to report the Nigerian government over phantom killings and mirage persecutions. We strongly contend that Nigerian Christians are brandishing US power in our faces to blackmail the Nigerian government and also to bully the Muslims into silence and total submission.

 

“Nigerian Christian leaders are adept at playing the victim card. But one thing is striking here: They have never lodged such reports at the secretariat of the African Union or the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS). Their reports always go to the US.

 

“It should not be too difficult for analysts to decipher the handwriting here. Their aim is to get the sympathy of the most powerful Christian nation in the world, perhaps to launch a modern crusade against Nigerian Muslims so that their age-long avowed aim of ‘Nigeria For Christ’ which they could not realise at the straight can become fait accompli at the bend. A people that makes no distinction between fair and foul cannot stand up to be counted in the hall of conscience.

 

“Meanwhile it is an open secret that the US is the leader of the Muslim-hating axis of the world. The trajectory of its economic sanctions and military attacks and invasions around the world speaks volumes in this regard and the objective has always been the retardation and debilitation of Muslim nations politically, economically and militarily.  

 

“It is a dangerous power game because the besieged Muslims of Nigeria may be left with no other option than to distance themselves from both the government and the terrorists.

 

“It is now very obvious that Nigerian Muslims have been turned into pawns in a chess game and mere eggs in a ping-pong match. The terrorists are killing Muslims from the left, the government is marginalizing them from the right while powerful Christian nations intend to massacre them from the centre, all courtesy of Nigerian Christian neo-imperialists.      

 

“Before we take an underwater dive, we call on FG not to succumb to Christian blackmail gimmicks nor turn Nigerian Muslims into guinea pigs in this ugly experiment. Permit us to also warn that this false allegation that it is only Christians that are being killed in Nigeria may make the dream of making our dear country a land of peaceful coexistence a sham, a mirage, a phantom.”

 

#KillingsInNigeria

#FGDontSuccumbToChristianBlackmail   

#StopBullyingMuslims

#StopRushingReportsToChristianNations

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

2027: MUSLIMS WILL DIALOGUE WITH CANDIDATES – MURIC

 

20^th October, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

2027: MUSLIMS WILL DIALOGUE WITH CANDIDATES – MURIC

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared that Nigerian Muslims will dialogue with potential candidates on the 2027 general elections. According to the organization, Muslim stakeholders will contact presidential and gubernatorial hopefuls concerning what they have in stock for Muslims in particular and for Nigerian citizens in general.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, 20^th October, 2025 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“The Nigerian political architecture is changing aesthetic features as the 2027 general elections draw close. This is the only period when kings-in-waiting are identified while shadow governments are formed in the silhouettes of dark alleys.

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in exercise of our civic responsibilities and conscious of our Allah-given fundamental human rights to seek the welfare of Nigerian Muslims in particular and that of all Nigerians in general, hereby notify potential candidates in the coming general elections to get ready for dialogue with Muslims in their various constituencies.

“Though mighty in number, their microphone is permanently muted. Worse still, their demographic superiority has not translated to anything better particularly in terms of realization of Muslim civil liberties. Nigerian Muslims have lived under unfavourable conditions since independence in 1960. The attainment of republican status in 1963 did not change the situation while successive administrations, including those led by Muslims, have turned deaf ears to their demands.

“This has forced the Muslims to forward their demands to the authorities through petitions, courtesy visits, peaceful rallies, etc, all to no avail to date. Yet Muslims are determined to continue the struggle albeit using peaceful, legitimate and constitutional means.

“We are now leveraging on the political climate in the country to look for listening ears among Nigerian politicians. Nigerian Muslims are willing to engage in dialogue with potential candidates, whether Muslims or Christians, on the 2027 general elections.

“Throughout the history of democratic struggles, whether in the United States, Britain or France, election periods are used by communities and interest groups to showcase their demands and to subsequently base their voting patterns on such demands. Not only do they eventually vote for candidates who promise to address their grievances, they ensure that such candidates are held accountable after their victory.

“Muslim leaders and stakeholders are therefore advised to contact presidential and gubernatorial hopefuls in the states and at national level concerning what they have in stock for Muslims in particular and for Nigerian citizens in general.

“Collective bargaining and securing the commitment of candidates have become mandatory in view of past experiences in which Muslims were left in limbo. We must hold people who secure our votes accountable. Muslim votes must count through palpable results which favour Muslim demands and which ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians like hunger, poverty and homelessness.”

#MuslimVotesMustCount

#TalkToMuslims

#InclusivityNow

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC CONDEMNS VIOLATION OF MUSLIM STUDENT’S RIGHT TO WEAR HIJAB AT FEDERAL STAFF SCHOOL, ADEWOLE, ILORIN

 

13^th October, 2025

MURIC CONDEMNS VIOLATION OF MUSLIM STUDENT’S RIGHT TO WEAR HIJAB AT FEDERAL STAFF SCHOOL, ADEWOLE, ILORIN

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Kwara State Chapter, expresses serious concern and disappointment over the recent incident at Federal Staff School, Adewole, Ilorin, where a Muslim female student was denied entry into the school premises for wearing hijab, in clear exercise of her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.

A viral video circulating online shows the school’s security man and a female teacher preventing the student from entering the school because of the school’s so-called “code of conduct” which allegedly prohibits the wearing of hijab by female students. This is discriminatory and it violates Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to manifest and propagate one’s faith in worship, teaching, practice, and observance. This constitutional provision has received several judicial blessings of our courts through judicial pronouncements up to the Supreme Court.

MURIC condemns the reoccuring disregard for constitutional rights and calls on the school management, and the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately investigate the incident and ensure that the affected student resumes her studies without further harassment or intimidation. And any of the school teacher found culpable should be appropriately dealt with. Ditto for any school official found culpable in this act of discrimination should be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

We remind all stakeholders that the hijab is not a fashion accessory but a religious obligation for Muslim females, and its use in public institutions is a legitimate expression of faith protected under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). It is therefore unlawful for any public school or institution to impose a dress code or “code of conduct” that infringes upon or denies Muslim girls their right to practice their religion

Furthermore, we urge parents and guardians to promptly report any instance where their children or wards are harassed, discriminated against, or denied access to education on account of wearing the hijab, so that appropriate legal and administrative actions can be taken to safeguard their fundamental rights

MURIC reiterates its commitment to peaceful advocacy, dialogue, and legal engagement in defending the rights of Muslims across the States. We call on Muslim parents, civil society groups, and community leaders to remain calm while we take lawful steps to address this matter with the relevant authorities.

We urge the State Government and the Federal Ministry of Education to issue clear directives reaffirming the right of Muslim students to wear hijab in public schools and to ensure that such discriminatory practices are not repeated in any part of Kwara State.

Barrister Taofeek Jaji,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

Kwara State Chapter.

 

MAIDUGURI HOSPITALS HARASSING MUSLIM WOMEN – MURIC

 

9^th October, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MAIDUGURI HOSPITALS HARASSING MUSLIM WOMEN – MURIC   

Three government hospitals in Maiduguri, Borno State, have been accused of harassing Muslim women who wear Islamic garments. Those fingered are Maiduguri General Hospital, Umar Shehu Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.   

A civil liberties group which spoke under the aegis of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), levelled the allegation in a statement titled ‘Maiduguri Hospitals Harassing Muslim Women – MURIC’. The press release which was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, was circulated among newsmen on Thursday, 9^th October, 2025.

It reads:

“Three government hospitals in Maiduguri, Borno State, have been fingered in incidents of serial harassment of Muslim women who wear Islamic garments. Those fingered in the allegation are Maiduguri General Hospital, Umar Shehu Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“Hiding under the prevailing atmosphere of insecurity in the state, the security details at the gates of the three hospitals are in the habit of ordering Muslim women who wear niqab (Islamic veil) to remove them completely as they approach the gates until they enter the hospitals’ premises.

“MURIC finds this absolutely unnecessary, superfluously stereotyping and premeditatedly subjective. It is totally unacceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. It is an abridgement of Allah-given fundamental human rights of our women.

“We will not compromise in the matter of the dignity of Muslim women. The right to the dignity of the human person is entrenched in Section 34(b)&(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended (2011).

“It says inter alia ‘Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly…(b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

“Also, Article 4, Clause 1 & 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights says, ‘Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person.’

“There is no doubt that asking Muslim women to totally remove their head covers in public is tantamount to de-robing them, stripping them, humiliating them and depriving them of their human dignity contrary to the aforementioned local and international laws.

“What the three hospitals mentioned above do to Muslim women in Maiduguri is therefore illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. We therefore demand that the authorities of those hospitals put a stop to this archaic practice.

“As usual in our pragmatic interventions, we will not fail to acknowledge the porous situation in which official duties are being carried out in Borno State. But this does not extenuate the human rights abuses to which these Muslim women are being subjected daily.

“It is grossly unnerving, highly provocative and exceedingly nauseating to watch our women being derobed at hospital gates on a daily basis. Their hair remain exposed from outside the gates until they are inside. This does not promote religious tolerance and understanding because Islam forbids the exposure of the hair of Muslim women.

“The Quran provides guidance on modest dress for women in chapter 24 verse 31 (Surat al-Nuur) and chapter 33 verse 59 (Surat al-Ahzaab) by instructing them to lower their gaze, guard their chastity, and to draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their bosoms.

“It is therefore sacriledgious for anyone for any reason at all to compel Muslim women to uncover their heads in public. It is an act of religious oppression which no Muslim community will stomach. It is humiliating, degrading and denigrating. Muslims hold the chastity and dignity of their women in very high esteem.

“Our findings reveal that the Muslim women are not searched at the hospital gate at all. They are only told to remove their head covers and go straight inside the premises. This defeats the purpose if, indeed, the removal of their niqab is for security reasons. But nay, it is to humiliate them.

“The way out is to allow female security staff to screen Muslim women who wear Islamic garments. This is safe enough and theologically acceptable because fellow women are free to see the bare heads of Muslim women. A special spot can be created near the gate where such Muslim women can be directed to meet female security staff for screening and clearing.

“Failure to stop this malicious, obnoxious and abominable practice of harassing Muslim women will be interpreted as engaging in deliberate gender discrimination, female stigmatization and religious profiling.

“This systemic intimidation may have constituted an obstacle in the efforts of the state government to secure the full cooperation of the civilian population in the state.  They are mainly Muslims and they cannot be happy seeing their wives, their mothers, daughters and sisters being stripped ‘naked’ everyday at hospital gates.

“Also, many Muslim women who use niqab may have kept away from the hospital completely even when they have health challenges. Some may also stay away even if their loved ones are on admission in any of the three hospitals. This is a disturbing phenomenon.

“We appeal to the state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to investigate and intervene in this matter before it is too late.”

#GovernorBabaganaZulum

#MaiduguriHospitals

#StopHumiliatingMuslimWomen

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

UNBAN CO-INSURANCE WITH TAKAFUL: MURIC TELLS NAICOM

 

7^th October, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

UNBAN CO-INSURANCE WITH TAKAFUL: MURIC TELLS NAICOM

An appeal has gone to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to withdraw its recent circular which prohibited conventional insurance companies from co-insuring businesses with Islamic insurance companies.

The appeal was made by a faith-based human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). In a statement circulated to pressmen on Tuesday, 7^th October, 2025, the group accused NAICOM of religious discrimination, insurance apartheid, abridgement of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Nigerian Muslims and neo-imperialist cum Islamophobic exclusivism.

The statement was signed by the organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

It reads:

“The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recently issued a circular which prohibited conventional insurance companies from co-insuring businesses with Islamic insurance companies.

“The circular ref: NAICOM/I&R/CIR/69/2025 under the title ‘Prohibition of Coinsurance Arrangements Between Takaful Companies and Conventional Insurance Companies’ was dated 19^th August, 2025.

“This circular is archaic, myopic and parochial. It aims at the heart of the businesses of Nigerian Muslims, particularly Islamic insurance (takaful) companies. It also seeks to divide Nigerians against themselves while it threatens religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

“It seeks to deprive millions of Nigerian Muslims from having access to insurance policies. It is Islamophobic. It is also an attempt to open the doors of Nigerian businesses to religious apartheid, exclusivism and gymnastic religiousity as opposed to free enterprise without any form of discrimination either on grounds of religion, ethnicity or gender.

“As a multi-religious country where the policies of institutions must reflect the diversity of the cultures of the people, this circular breaches Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which compels inclusivity as it directs agencies like NAICOM, inter alia, that the:

‘…Conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.’

“To that extent, therefore, NAICOM’s circular prohibiting conventional insurance companies from co-insuring businesses with Islamic insurance companies is illegal, unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional.

“NAICOM has fired the first salvo to start a religious war on the insurance battlefield. But can this be sustained? What if Nigerian Muslims respond in like manner? NAICOM has forgotten that Islamic insurance groups as an institution represent Nigerian Muslims in the economic sector.

“Professionals in the insurance field cannot deny the fact that all conventional insurance companies have Muslim customers. NAICOM may have inadvertently tickled the consciousness of Muslims for self-determination in the area of insurance.

“This is capable of generating an unhealthy atmosphere whereby Muslim customers begin to withdraw from non-Islamic (conventional) insurance companies due to this unhealthy and tactless development.

“This circular is therefore a product of short-sightedness and acrobatic religiousity. It is long in redtapism but short in strategic planning. This policy is anti-Islam and malicious. It also suffers from desertification of emotional intelligence.

“In conclusion, NAICOM’s circular smirks of religious discrimination, insurance apartheid, abridgement of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Nigerian Muslims and neo-imperialist cum Islamophobic exclusivism. Therefore, MURIC demands immediate and unconditional withdrawal of this offensive, provocative and illegal circular.”

#NAICOM

#WithdrawReligiousApartheidCircular

#UnbanCoinsuranceTakaful

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ADDRESS MUSLIM COMPLAINTS IN FUTURE RESHUFFLING – MURIC

 

4^th October, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

ADDRESS MUSLIM COMPLAINTS IN FUTURE RESHUFFLING – MURIC  

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the allegation of lopsidedness in political appointments raised by Nigerian Muslims in any future cabinet reshuffling.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, 4^th October, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“It is not unusual for cabinets to be reshuffled midway into an administration’s tenure or after an historical or significant event. In this context, it will be in character if the Tinubu administration decides to reshuffle its cabinet after Nigeria’s 65^th Independence anniversary.

“It is an open secret that Nigerian Muslims have complained severally about the lopsidedness of political appointments in the present dispensation vis a vis political posts given to Nigerian Christians.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) cried out over the marginalisation  of Muslims in political appointments (https://www.thisdaylive.com/2023/09/19/muric-accuses-tinubu-of-appointing-more-christians/). The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) lodged the same complaint (https://eaglefm.ng/youre-marginalising-muslims-shariah-council-tells-tinubu/).

“The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) also took the cue (https://prnigeria.com/2025/06/03/muswen-commends-tinubu-decries/) while  the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria equally joined the outcry (https://guardian.ng/news/islamic-scholars-allege-marginalisation-of-muslims-in-appointments/).

“Even the president reportedly confirmed that 62% of political appointments went to Nigerian Christians (https://www.nairaland.com/8428839/62-tinubus-appointees-christians-bayo; https://igberetvnews.com/1483344/62-tinubus-appointees-christians-bayo-onanuga/) while Christian leaders testified that the Tinubu administration favoured the body of Christ (https://authorityngr.com/2025/09/30/christians-have-benefitted-immensely-from-tinubu-s-administration-apc-g3/; https://leadership.ng/christian-leaders-laud-tinubu-for-balancing-appointments/).

“It is therefore too glaring and undeniable that Nigerian Muslims, particularly those in the South West, have been at the receiving end of political marginalization under the Tinubu administration. On the contrary, the same administration has been extra-ordinarily generous with minority Christian groups in the North Central in matters of political appointments

“It should be noted that MURIC speaks not out of animosity, reckless activism or irresponsible leadership but out of the desire to add luster to good governance. Although Nigerian Muslims have little influence in mainstream media space, they constitute a huge portion of the country’s demographic strength.

“Good governance demands that such a massive but voiceless group deserves attention while their grudges require Aso Rock’s action. The Ummah is our constituency and we have a duty to bring feelers from there to the attention of those in positions of authority.

“As we draw the curtain on this conversation, MURIC appeals to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to raise the banners of justice, fairness and equity in political appointments if and when he contemplates reshuffling his cabinet. Inclusivity is key in selections. Muslims have skilled men and women in all sectors for those who care to look in their direction. Only thus can Muslims have a true sense of belonging.”

#PresidentTinubu

#NextcabinetReshuffling

#CompetentMuslimsEverywhere

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).