TORTURE CENTERS ARE NOT ISLAMIYYAH SCHOOLS

26^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

TORTURE CENTERS ARE NOT ISLAMIYYAH SCHOOLS

An Islamic human rights group has denied that torture centers recently discovered in some states of Nigeria are Islamiyyah schools. The denial was contained in a statement issued by Professor Ishaq Akintola on behalf of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Saturday, 26^th October, 2019.

“Those torture centers are not Islamiyyah schools. The only thing going on in Islamiyyah schools all over the country is teaching and learning of Islamic subjects, particularly Qur’an and hadith. Our mallams love their students. Our mallams are mentors and responsible people.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we strongly condemn what is going on in the torture chambers and we dissociate Islamiyyah schools from them. It is horrible, inhuman and barbaric. But the fact remains that those places are not Islamiyyah schools. They are rehabilitation centres. A clear distinction exists between Islamiyyah schools and reform centres. This would have been clear enough if efforts had been made to visit Islamiyyah schools after which comparisons can be made.  

“The inmates were brought there by their parents after noticing their weird and bohemian behaviour. They are victims of drug addiction whose anti-social demeanours made their parents to seek solutions to their drug addiction. The fact that parents came out to protest against the police action in the centers further cements our position. The parents even demanded immediate return of their children and wards to those centres.

“We reject the methods used to reform drug addicts in those centres. They are too crude and too inhuman. Chaining and severe flogging are unacceptable correctional methods. Those styles are sadistic. They are the height of man’s inhumanity to man. But there is no scintilla of doubt that they stand in contradistinction to well-known and acceptable teaching methodology in Islamiyyah schools.”

MURIC blamed the mistaken identity on Islamophobia.

“Calling those torture chambers Islamiyyah schools is simply another Islam-bashing. Some people are always eager to associate evil and negative things with Islam. It is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Islamophobics are behind the negative publicity and the aim is to kill the Islamiyyah schools and demonise the learning of Arabic and Islamic studies.

“The propaganda was well coordinated. All Western media platforms were on our necks within minutes of the discovery. The feverishness was astounding. Yet their paradoxically lackadaisical attitude to the Kano 9 incident (in which nine Muslim children were kidnapped, converted to Christianity and sold into slavery) around the same time is shocking. It exposes the double standard which is a major characteristic of Islamophobia.

“The aim is to paint Islamiyyah schools in the colour of Shaytan (Satan) and to make the general public hate mallams and Imams. It is also intended to scare children from learning Arabic and Islamic studies. This disgraceful plot was hatched by highly-placed Muslim-haters and it is of great antiquity. The removal of Arabic ajami from the naira under ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was part of the plot.   

“But they have failed just like Almighty Allah promised, ‘Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light with their mouths ( i. e. with their false propaganda against Islam) but Allah will complete his Light even though the unbelievers may not like it’ (Glorious Qur’an 61:8).

“Contrary to their campaign of hate and fake news, Islamiyyah schools remain institutions of spiritual and moral elevation. They may be poorly financed. Our mallams and Imams may not be wealthy. They may parade no private jets but they are rich in mind, wealthy in soul and noble in character. What is paramount to them is taqwah (fear of Allah). The Glorious Qur’an says, “…The best among you before Allah is the most pious’ (Qur’an 49:13).

“This verse summarises the whole philosophy of nobility and greatness in Islam. It de-emphasises material wealth. Allah does not look at your money and your worldly possessions. He looks at your heart. Islam holds that material wealth alone is not the only parameter for measuring greatness. Our mallams, alfas and Imams may not have money, they have contentment. They value their names above silver and gold. That is why we are proud of our mallams, alfas and Imams and we will not stand akimbo while merchants of hate try to rubbish them.”

The Islamic human rights organization insisted that Islam does not support torture.

“Islam is a humanistic faith. Torture is taboo in Islam. As a Muslim, you must not even torture an animal not to talk of doing such a wicked thing to fellow homo sapiens compos mentis. Allah commands Muslims to ‘Cooperate in performing righteous deeds and not in committing sin and aggression’ (Qur’an 5:2). An hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reveals how those who torture animals may be denied al-Jannah (paradise). A prostitute was even promised al-Jannah because she gave water to a thirsty animal which was about to die.

“Another hadith quotes the Prophet as saying, ‘Be kind to those on earth so that those in heaven may be kind to you’. Muslims are taught to remove harmful things from peoples’ path in order to earn a reward in heaven. Can such a religion approve torture? Islam is love, not animousity. Islam teaches kindness, not cruelty. It promotes humanistic propensities, not animalistic tendencies. Islam gives life, not death. It is light, not darkness. Islam stands for knowledge, not ignorance.” 

MURIC held state governments responsible for failing to stem the tide.

“We blame the state governments for failing to stem the tide of drug addiction and for not providing enough correctional facilities. This failure created a lacuna which the organisers of those crude rehabilitation centres exploited. Drug addiction has long been rampant in all parts of the country. The youth are hooked on cocaine, heroin, marijuana, gum and even toilet-sniffing! It is horrendous. But the state governments pretended not to see anything wrong.”

Akintola suggested panacea to the proliferation of torture chambers around the country.

“We are alarmed at the proliferation of torture centers around the country. But people should not be beheaded just because they have ordinary headache.  Instead of punitive measures, therefore, we suggest that the state governments where torture centres were found should integrate the owners of the centres into the state’s rehabilitation programme particularly for training. They can tap into their various experiences. More correctional centres should also be built by state governments.

“As we rise from this session, we reiterate that those torture centers are not Islamiyyah schools. We affirm clearly, emphatically and categorically that Islamiyyah schools do not put pupils in chains. The horror centres are crude correctional facilities which state governments can upgrade while the owners of the centres can be trained and integrated into official rehabilitation centers.”  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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MURIC DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF FRSC KILLERS

25th October, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF FRSC KILLERS

Four officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have allegedly beaten a man to death for resisting their attempt to collect bribe. Odion Omafo Samuel was allegedly killed by Francis Igboh, Sunday Ogi, Samson Alolade and Joseph Onolade on 14^th October, 2019 after flagging down his Audi 80 car at Okhuaihe Hill along Benin-Agbor Road. His body was reportedly buried in a shallow grave by the suspects.

Reacting to this ugly development, an Islamic civil group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the killing as callous, wicked and detestable. The group demanded the prosecution of the suspects. This was contained in a statement distributed to the media by the arrow-head of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Friday, 25^th October, 2019.

“The killing of Samuel Omafo Odion is callous, wicked and detestable. FRSC men have disappointed Nigerians. The same people posted on our roads to ensure our safety have become our killers. Men of road safety have become road killers. It is preposterous. This is additional evidence that there are criminals among officials of the FRSC.

“We demand immediate prosecution of the suspects. There must be no coverup from anywhere. We call on FRSC authorities to stop their men from flagging down motorists on lonely higways. Such method is an avenue for extortion, intimidation and other criminal activities like this recent killing.

“FRSC officials often expose motorists to danger by stopping them in odd places. Vehicles stopped on lonely stretches may refuse to start when the driver is eventually allowed to go. This is very dangerous particularly with the security challenges facing Nigeria. FRSC leadership is therefore urged to inject a human face to the modus operandi of its men. Besides, there is need for FRSC leadership to review its recruitment methods with a view to weeding out criminal elements from inception.

“In addition, we appeal to Nigerian lawmakers to protect Nigerians from FRSC killers by taking urgent action capable of stopping FRSC officials from flagging down motorists in dangerous places. Our lawmakers should not wait until Nigerians start ignoring stopping signals from FRSC officials out of fear for their personal safety.

“As we drop the anchor, we call on the Nigerian police to ensure unhindered prosecution of the four FRSC suspects until justice prevails. We charge FRSC leadership to stop their men from flagging down motorists on lonely highways. We appeal to Nigerian lawmakers to rise to the occasion.”  

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER: MURIC TELLS NORTHERN CAN

21^st October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER: MURIC TELLS NORTHERN CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern Chapter) attacked the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Wednesday 16^th October, 2019 over MURIC’s earlier statement of Monday 14^th October, 2019.  

MURIC had described the abduction of nine Muslim children in Kano and their conversion to Christianity as kidnapping for Christ. In its reaction, Northern CAN described MURIC’s statement as ‘reckless, irresponsible, derogatory and provocative utterances.’

In a statement circulated to media men on Monday, 21^st October, 2019, MURIC debunked Northern CAN’s position, insisting that CAN should put its house in order. The statement was signed by MURIC’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“There is incontrovertible evidence that Muslim children have been kidnapped, converted to Christianity and sold into slavery. It is not the Kano 9 alone. There are others. There is also indubitable evidence to prove that it did not start yesterday. What is Northern CAN trying to tell us? They are chasing shadows.

“In our statement last Monday, we separated good Christians from bad ones. We also made it clear that we have both the good and the bad among Muslims too. Here are our exact words: ‘We are aware that not all Christians are involved in this criminal behavior. Many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving. Such Christians will never descend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children.’

“Instead of joining hands with us to condemn the bad ones among us, Northern CAN is seeking to silence us. That is a tall dream. We advise Northern CAN to put its house in order and stop blaming MURIC. Afterall we did not mention anything about kidnapping for Christ until the issue of Kano 9 occurred and the revelation has exposed other similar cases.

“We advise Northern CAN to launch a campaign of love and harmony in the churches. There is an urgent need to deradicalise Christian elements particularly in the Middle Belt region where Muslims are being killed and dumped inside mysterious ponds and narrow wells. The same advocacy should be taken to South Eastern Nigeria from where syndicates sponsor sleeper cells to Northern Nigeria to abduct, convert and sell Muslim children into slavery.

“Enough of denials and sentimentalities. Northern CAN should stop defending the indefensible. Its current body language is not remorseful. Your fellow Christians kidnapped Muslim children and converted them to Christianity. The Muslims complain but instead of consoling them and checking your members you are firing at the victims from all cylinders. We know you very well. This has always been your style. You never own up.   

“We warn that Northern CAN should not drag Nigerian Christians into a controversy that involves only those who are in the dirty business of kidnapping Muslim children for conversion to Christianity. We hold Jesus (peace be upon him) in very high esteem and our statement was not intended to malign him. No true Muslim will do that.

“Extremist Christians can kidnap Muslims for Christ. That does not mean that Christ is involved. In fact Christ did not send them. They are only being more Christian than Christ himself. Jesus never taught men to be wicked. He taught love, kindness and righteousness. It is highly mischievous of Northern CAN to attempt to whip up sentiments over mere semantics. 

“We find it difficult to believe CAN’s words, ‘No Christian has associated Muslims with such criminal acts. We only cry for our own who are victims’. Really? This is a false claim and Nigerians know better. What of all the allegations against us in the early days of Boko Haram attacks on churches?

“On a last note, we invite Northern CAN to put its house in order and join hands with the authorities in fishing out remaining sleeper cells for the kidnapping and conversion of Muslim children to Christianity. We can all coexist peacefully but we must first eschew parochialism and address issues objectively. We can change this atmosphere of mutual suspicion if only we can be sincere with ourselves.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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KANO 9: ET TU FFK? - MURIC

18^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

KANO 9: ET TU FFK? - MURIC

Ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode (FFK), on Monday, 14^th October 2019 sought to downplay the abduction of nine Muslim children who had been kidnapped, sold into slavery and converted to Christianity. The children were abducted in Kano and taken to Onitsha in Anambra State but were eventually rescued by the Kano Police Command.

Subsequent press statement issued by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) accused the abductors of kidnapping the children for Christ. But FFK reacted by attributing the abduction to criminality only and that it had nothing to do with religion.

Not satisfied with FFK’s reaction, the Islamic human rights group on Friday, 18^th October, 2019 rejected FFK’s pontifications and described them as misleading, deceitful and unrealistic.

“We reject Femi Fani Kayode’s pontifications. It is misleading, deceitful and unrealistic. FFK is playing Jekyll and Hyde. Why are all the kidnappers Christians if it has nothing to do with Christianity? Why were all the victims Muslims and why were the victims’ names changed from their original Muslim nomenclatures?

“FFK has committed a fundamental blunder. Was he not the one that came out with scud missiles shelling mercilessly from all artillery machines in March 2016 over the Ese Oruru imbroglio? There was nothing he did not say at that time. FFK should listen to himself sometimes.

“Concerning the October 2019 issue of kidnapping, conversion and sale into slavery of nine Muslim children whose ages ranged between 4 and 10, FFK has this to say today: ‘Nobody kidnaps for Christ…It has nothing to do with God. It is a human failing and not a religious one.’

“Et tu FFK? Can you recall what you said in March 2016 concerning the simple case of two lovers eloping? It was on the Ese Oruru controversy and you linked it to the Emir of Kano. There is no gainsaying the fact that allusion to the Emir tantamounts also to allusion to Islam. He is an undetachable symbol of the Islamic faith.

“Now listen to yourself, ‘14 year old Ese Oruru's mother claimed that her daughter’s abductors said that it was the Emir of Kano himself that ordered her daughters abduction and that she was kept in his palace for over one year for his pleasure.’

“Not done, you launched another vitriolic attack on the Sultan of Sokoto in the same piece when you wrote in the case of Patience Paul. ‘This time it is a young 17 year old Christian girl, by the name of Miss Patience Paul, who has been abducted from her home, parents and loved ones in Benue state, forcefully taken to Sokoto state and kept there against her will in the Sultan's palace (https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/ese-oruru-emir-sanusi-should-tell-us-what-he-did-with-abducted-teenager-fani-kayode/pdtg2cc).

“Et tu FFK? You launched verbal halitosis against our revered leaders in one single outburst but now it is no longer about religion. What double standard! When it was Patience Paul you remembered it was about a ‘Christian girl’. When it was about Ese Oruru you made defamatory and libelous statements against our respected Emir of Kano.

“But when it came to the turn of Christian kidnappers who actually went out of their way to baptize Muslim kids to Christianity your integrity test failed you and it became a non-religious issue. Now you are telling us ‘Nobody kidnaps for Christ’. You can say that again. You have forgotten that what goes round comes around.

“By the way, what has FFK got to say about another case of abduction of a 6-year-old Muslim boy, Ukashatu, who was kidnapped, baptised and sold to Madam Christiana. Perhaps FFK will tell us that Christiana is not a Christian name? Anyway, Madam Christiana gave Ukashatu a Christian name, Michael. Ukashatu was not found until a few days ago. He is now Michael, aged 14. (http://katsinapost.com.ng/2019/10/15/icymi-igbo-woman-abduct-6-year-old-boy-from-katsina-convert-him-to-michael/).

“Still, ‘Nobody kidnaps for Christ’? But pray, what is the nexus between Ukashatu and Michael if it is true that nobody kidnaps for Christ? FFK speaks with his tongue in his cheek.

“The same FFK left the path of profundities for that of banalities and threw courtesy and decency to the winds to embrace vulgar and unprintable words in his vituperations against Akintola over the BB Naija affair.

“In his own words, ‘Sheikh Akintola wants @BBNaijafan banned because he is addicted to the show and each time he watches it he has a loud, explosive and uncontrollable orgasm and fires an accidental discharge into his pants. So much for being a pious and disciplined scholar and cleric.’ (https://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/news/bbnaija-fani-kayode-blasts-muric-for-demanding-a-ban-on-the-reality-tv-show) We urge Nigerians never to take FFK serious again.

“About three Kano-based non-governmental organisations recently complained about the systematic and sustained abduction of Muslim children by Christian groups from a certain part of the country in the past ten years. FFK and his cohorts should therefore stop defending the indefensible. They should leave the security agencies to do their investigations.

MURIC advised the ex-minister to be sincere.

“We advise FFK to be sincere in his dealings with Nigerians. Sincerity is in admitting that the Christian abductors actually baptized the children but that all Christians, including FFk, reject the conversion. That was what MURIC did when the notorious Boko Haram insurgents claimed to have converted the Chibok girls way back in 2014.

“We did not claim that there was no attempt at forceful conversion to Islam. That would have been deceitful. We came out openly and clearly at the time to reject the forceful conversion.

“For the records, MURIC said in its press statement of 13^th May, 2014, ‘We have no iota of doubt that the girls ‘converted’ under duress. Such ‘conversion’ is null and void under the Shari’ah. The Glorious Qur’an is very explicit in this regard as it says, 'There is no compulsion in religion…' (Laa ikrahun fii ad-diin” (Qur’an 2:256).

"We also sent a strong message to Boko Haram, ‘A man who orders the invasion and kidnap of innocent young girls is honour-blind. Shame on Boko Haram! Shekau has no modicum of integrity left in his anatomy.’ In addition, we called the ‘purported’ conversion ‘cowardly and shameful’. We said conversion to Islam should be an act of free will. We did not conjure that statement. It has been there for the records since May 2014. See https://www.legit.ng/66203.html.

“FFK razzle-dazzles Nigerians with his Islamisation and Fulanisation mirage. But he closes his eyes to Afeniferisation and hobnobs with Igbonisation and Biafrisation. He sees religion in the Ese Oruru and Patience Paul affairs. But he discards the Kano 9 saga as a mere crime. To FFK, Christiana is not a Christian name and changing Ukashatu to Michael is not Christianisation. FFK is a bundle of contradictions.

“FFK should realize that he is a leader and a leader should lead responsibly. He should stop manifesting double standards. Playing to the gallery, particularly using inflammatory statements and double-speaking are not characteristics of responsible leadership. Christians and Muslims in Nigeria share the same destiny and the leaders must not steer that destiny towards ruination.

“In conclusion, we appeal to Nigerians to always consider issues dispassionately. We should all reject and expose the criminals in our midst. There should be no attempt to extenuate the crimes of brothers-in-Christ or those of brothers-in-Islam. Crime is crime whether it is committed by a Christian or by a Muslim. It has no other name. We must also boldly and objectively reject attempts by fanatical Christians and Muslims in our midst to seek conversion using fair and foul methods.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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MURIC CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING FOR CHRIST

14^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING FOR CHRIST

Nine Muslim children who had been kidnapped, converted to Christianity and sold into slavery were rescued by the Kano Police Command on Friday, 11^th October, 2019. The children were abducted in Kano and taken to Onitsha in Anambra State.

The abduction has been condemned by an Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 14^th October, 2019. In its most recent press release, MURIC described the latest discovery as nauseating, wicked and reprehensible.

“Kidnappers have taken over the house of God. The phenomenon of kidnapping for Christ has now rented the air. We are shocked to our marrows. It is the height of acrobatic religiousity, gymnastic spirituality and paradoxical criminality. It is such a big shame that some Christian fanatics will live among us only for the purpose of abducting our children, converting them to Christianity and selling them into slavery. Kidnapping for Christ is disgusting, nauseating, wicked and reprehensible.

“We see it as an extension of the ‘Nigeria for Christ’ slogan. Christian evangelists are no longer satisfied with their illegal taking over of commercial vehicles where they scream over the heads of peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians going or coming from work. The overnight vigils where they raise noise level beyond 100 decibels are not enough for them.  

“They are now stealing our children as the latter emerge from their Islamiyyah schools. Why do they hate us so much? Why do they pretend to be our neighbours? An open declaration of hostilities would have been better because it would have alerted us to the fact that we are living in the midst of foes.

“Nonetheless, MURIC will not allow emotion to becloud its intervention in this sensitive and ugly development. We are aware that not all Christians are involved in this criminal behavior. Many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving. Such Christians will never decend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children.

“We therefore appeal to Muslims throughout the federation to dispassionately separate the wheat from the chaff. This Kano 9 incident should not be allowed to generate animosity between them and their Christian neighbours. Neither should it ignite spontaneous attacks on non-indigenes in Muslim majority areas.

“Nonetheless, MURIC charges Muslim parents to be security conscious particularly around their children. Mallams in charge of Islamiyyah schools and madrasahs all over Nigeria are urged to do head-counting before the commencement of classes and immediately after. Muslim children should be given security tips. For instance, movement in groups should be encouraged while residents should heighten their vigilance.”

MURIC blamed the phenomenon of abduction for Christ on aggressive proselytisation.

“This kind of abduction can be traced to Christian aggressive proselytization in Nigeria. Nigerian Christians take preaching like war. The firebrand evangelists take over commercial vehicles. It is only in Nigeria that people preach inside buses and distract the attention of drivers.

“Such arrant nonsense is not allowed in saner climes but in Nigeria, once one Christian starts this abnormal thing inside a commercial bus, others encourage him by clapping and singing along with him whether or not there are Muslims in the same vehicle. It is total disregard for social decorum and aggravated assault on civilized behavior.  

The organization also argued that the Kano 9 imbroglio could not have been the first.

“We have every reason to contend that the Kano 9 imbroglio is not the first. The systematic abduction of Muslim children has been going on long before 2014. These Christian kidnappers are methodical and meticulous. They study the environment for some time and plan their escape routes with microscopic accuracy.

“The Kano 9 were just lucky to have been found. Thousands have disappeared without trace. There must be other criminal syndicates like those caught recently. The identities of Muslim kids are changed once they are abducted. They are then given Christian names and sold away to human traffickers and ritualists. It is another angle to the crusade against Muslims and it changes the narrative.

“MURIC holds firebrand Christian clerics who preach hate in their churches responsible for this onslaught against Muslims and their children. Our mosques are being demolished. Our children are being kidnapped and forcefully converted to Christianity.

“School authorities lock out Muslim children on account of ordinary head scarf. The Muslim girl-child suffers daily from the illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and blatant impunity of Christian school officials. Muslims have become endangered species in Nigeria. Oh God! What have we done to deserve this?

“We appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate security around Islamiyyah schools and protect Muslim children from Christian abductors. The Kano 9 culprits must face the full wrath of the law. There must be no cover-up.

“They work in syndicates. Efforts must be made to apprehend other Christian groups targeting Muslim children for abduction. Security agents should beam their searchlights on night buses leaving the cities, particularly northern and South Western cities where Muslim population is thick. Good Christians should reject and expose the bad eggs among them in the same way that mainstream Muslims rejected and exposed Boko Haram.  

MURIC also mocked some activists and the rest of civil society for being selective.

“We are miffed by the attitude of some members of civil society and human rights activists. They raise hell and brimstone when a single Christian is involved in what looks like a denial but look the other way when thousands of Muslims are deprived. This is selective activism. It is sheer playing to the gallery.

“Nigerians will recall the hullabaloo that followed the Ese Oruru saga in March 2016. Where are the advocates of girl-child rights who nearly brought down the ceilings of heaven over a mere case of elopement? Where are the human rights lawyers today?

Who will defend the poor, innocent Muslim children now that our human rights lawyers have elected to press the mute button on their remote controls? Why have the Nobel prize winners maintained a deafening silence over the persecution of hijab-wearing students in the South West?

“The hijab controversy has been raging in the South West for over three years now and they are yet to find their voice. They have refused to speak up for millions of female Muslim children who have been repressed, depressed and oppressed. Many of them have been forced out of school and our human rights activists believe it is business as usual. We affirm that double standards have the capacity to diminish credibility. Nigerians should know them for what they are the next time they speak again.   

“On the foreign scene, we are not surprised that the question on the lips of President Donald Trump is always ‘Why are you killing Christians in Nigeria?’ Trump will never ask, ‘Why are you persecuting Muslim girls in Nigeria?’ As the arrow head of Christian crusade against Muslims all over the world, we jog Trump’s conscience on the travails of the Muslim girl-child in South West Nigeria.

“We call on justice-loving Americans to speak up. We appeal to the United Nations to check the violation of Allah-given fundamental right of the Nigerian Muslim girl-child to the dignity of her human person and the manifestation of her personal identity as a Muslim.

“In our closing remarks, we strongly denounce kidnapping in the name of Christ. We urge the police to prosecute those arrested over the Kano 9 pallaver. We also appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate protection for Islamiyyah school children.

“Finally, we charge the UN to check the infringements against the Nigerian Muslim girl-child. We urge Nigerian Muslims to regard abductors of the Kano 9 as the black sheep in Christiandom who do not in any way represent Nigerian Christians as a corporate whole. The good Muslims and good Christians should therefore expose the evil ones and continue to peacefully coexist in the interest of the Nigerian project.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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JONATHAN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK FIASCO

11^th October, 2019

          

PRESS RELEASE:

JONATHAN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR CHIBOK FIASCO

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was recently in the news again as former British Prime Minister David Cameron accused him of frustrating the attempt of British special forces to rescue the abducted Chibok girls. It will be recalled that 276 Chibok girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on 15^th April, 2014. The abduction remains a mystery till date. Jonathan has rejected the allegation claiming he made several efforts to secure help from Britain and other countries.

However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected Jonathan’s defence. The Islamic human rights group based its rejection on the ex-president’s initial hesitation to take action after the abduction occurred. In a press statement circulated to the media on Friday, 11^th October, 2019, by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization demanded an apology from Jonathan.

“We reject Jonathan’s alibi. We take it with a pinch of salt. It is a cock and bull story. We are not actually basing our rejection on David Cameron’s revelation, rather we are looking at Jonathan’s reaction ab initio. The letters he claimed to have written to foreign powers to seek help were mere afterthoughts. He should tell the marines.  

“Jonathan should explain to us why he put the totality of the Nigerian defence architecture to sleep for 21 days after the abduction. He politicized the issue instead of springing to action. He refused to give orders to the military to go after the kidnappers. Instead, he called the kidnap story a ruse designed to discredit his administration. He said it never occurred.

“So Jonathan should leave the Cameron angle aside. Cameron was far away in NO. 10 Downing Street when the hoodlums kidnapped our girls. Jonathan was right here in Aso Rock, wining and dining and refusing to act while Madam Patience Jonathan was trying to puncture the veracity of the incident with her ‘diaris God oooo’.

“Had Jonathan sprang to action immediately after the abduction like a real Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the calamity would have been reversed but he delayed action until it was too late. His lackadaisical approach in those crucial moments allowed the insurgents to dig in. He gave Boko Haram an excruciatingly painful 21-day respite which enabled them to take the innocent girls deep into the forest. It was a serious dereliction of duty and an indubitably impeachable offence in a proactive parliamentary democracy. Unfortunately our lawmakers were on sabbatical”

MURIC asked the ex-president to apologise to Nigerians.

“The best Jonathan can do now is to apologise to Nigerians for the Chibok debacle. Jonathan should just swallow his pride and eat the humble pie. There are no two ways to it. An unreserved apology is what Nigerians are expecting and we will keep pounding the ex-president until he does the needful.

“We are concerned because that abduction emboldened the insurgents, exposed our underbelly and endangered Nigerian citizens to more criminalities. It was a huge blow to our security apparatus. Whatever threatens the safety and security of lives and properties of Nigerians must attract the interest of every serious civil society group. The Chibok incident opened the floodgate to the frequent kidnappings in the country today.”

The group also appealed to President Buhari to double government’s efforts to rescue the girls from captivity.

“We strongly appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to double government’s efforts aimed at securing the freedom of the Chibok girls. It is now five and a half years since these girls were taken away. We are in grief. Our nights are nightmarish. Horrible fears envelope our days. Please bring back our girls.”

MURIC urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers for both the Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.

“We urge Nigerians to intensify their prayers for the safe return of the Chibok girls. We must also remember Leah Sharibu, the lone Christian girl who was denied freedom by the insurgents.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,    

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)