EDO KILLINGS: PUNISH CULPRITS, COMPENSATE VICTIMS’ FAMILIES – MURIC

 

2^nd April, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

EDO KILLINGS: PUNISH CULPRITS, COMPENSATE VICTIMS’ FAMILIES – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the killing of 16 Northerners in Uromi, Edo State. MURIC described the killings as barbaric, heinous, horrendous and reprehensible. Describing the killings as ethnic purging, the group also called on the authorities to punish the culprits and compensate families of the victims. 

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, 2^nd April, 2025 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

The statement reads:

“16 Northerners traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Eid al-Fitr holiday were killed on the evening of Thursday, 27^th March, 2025 by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes at Uromi, Edo State. A viral video showed the victims being surrounded by youths, doused in petrol, and set on fire.

"MURIC condemns this killing in the strongest terms. It is barbaric, heinous, horrendous and reprehensible. It is a crime against humanity. We charge the authorities to apprehend the culprits as quickly as possible in order to give them adequate punishment. 

"We assert firmly, emphatically and unequivocally that it is when such crimes are adequately punished that they can act as deterrence. Nigerians from all backgrounds should be able to move freely from one part of the country to another without any fear of molestation. 

" Article 14 Section 2(b) of the1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’. We therefore charge the Federal Government (FG) and the various security agencies to ensure the security of lives of all citizens.

“Buttressing this, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates inalienable right to life, liberty and security of persons. The ability of governments to guarantee security of lives and freedom of movement has always been a major parameter for the assessment of the performance of leaders.

"In addition, we blame the Uromi killings on the Tsunami of anti-North incitements and the tornado of anti-Muslim hate speeches which emanated from church pulpits and enveloped the Nigerian political landscape before, during and after the 2023 general elections. 

"We therefore urge FG to revisit earlier attempts to criminalize hate speech. Nigerian lawmakers are advised to double their efforts in the preparation of bills in this direction. 

“Qur’an 5:32 lays great emphasis on the sanctity of life. Personal safety is therefore the first Allah-given fundamental human right. To breach this right is to commit a major sin.

“MURIC demands the payment of such compensation as commensurate with the status of each victim to the families of the 16 victims of this tragic incident. In particular, we demand that the payments be sourced directly from the culprits and their state government or governments. Only thus can the victims’ families be duely pacified.

“Finally, we commend the leadership of Nigerian Muslims as well as Northern political leaders for exercising restraint both in speech and action in the face of this highly provocative and brutal attack. We appeal to Muslim faithfuls throughout the country to follow this good example by remaining calm and law abiding.

#TheUromi16Northerners

#PunishTheKillers

#CompensateVictimsFamilies

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ADELEKE’S PRAYER VIDEO: MURIC KICKS

 

31^st March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

ADELEKE’S PRAYER VIDEO: MURIC KICKS

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has denounced a video clip showing Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke of Osun State praying at the Id ground. The group described the clip as laughable, despicable and detestable.

MURIC spoke on Monday, 31^st March, 2025 through its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“A video clip showing Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke of Osun State praying at the Id ground, Oshogbo, yesterday has gone viral. The video clip is laughable, despicable and detestable.

“Those who rob Muslims of economically rewarding jobs, those who give Muslims 7 (seven) commissioner slots but give Christians (seventeen) now pretend to worship with the same Muslims. It is the height of executive pretense. It is certificated deceit. It is not only repugnant, it is also superfluous and Quixotic.

“Somebody should please advise Governor Jackson Adeleke to stop bending over backwards to please the Muslims of Osun State. He is not one of us and we know it. He should also stop listening to con artists, impostors, pretenders, parasites and fabulists. There are too many sycophants around this governor.

“We express high tension shock and unreserved sadness at the possibility of the existence of Muslims milling around the governor and encouraging him to do this. Ceteris paribus, Muslims are known to take their acts of worship seriously, and we mean very seriously, without allowing anyone, no matter how highly placed, to make a mockery of it.

“Governor Adeleke himself should watch that video clip and assess the effect it is likely to generate among members of the public. Is it that of admiration for joining Muslims in prayer or that of hysteric laughter ignited by realization of the embedded mockery? Muslims touch their foreheads on the floor during prayer, not their 7-storey building caps! That video could make Moses Olaiya (a.k.a. Baba Sala, the renowned comedian) turn in his grave.

“The video clip has sparked various reactions from members of the public especially on social media. Somebody said, ‘Wetin be this? Who send am?’ Another said, “No be wahala be this?’ Other comments included, ‘But wetin be the meaning of all ds?’ and ‘Jackson ti ya nkan’, i.e. Jackson has become something’ (https://www.intelregion.com/entertainment/lifestyle/osun-state-governor-ademola-adeleke-praying-inside-mosque-watch/#google_vignette).

“MURIC’s Lagos headquarters has also received calls and comments from far and near on this extremely embarrassing video clip. Nigerian leaders should watch their actions and inactions. The world is now a global village and we live in glass houses. Most of the calls received by MURIC

“Non-Muslim political leaders do not have to join Muslims in salat. It is enough to show solidarity around the mosque premises but don’t join us because you can’t worship Allah in whom you have no faith.

“Governor Adeleke does not have to stress himself to convince Muslims in his state that he is with them. Muslims have not been insisting that Christian governors should attend their prayer ground. What they have been agitating for is fair and equitable representation.

“The governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a Christian. That of Ogun, Dapo Abiodun, is also a Christian. They do not join Muslims in prayer and the Muslims have never demanded their presence in their mosques. They carry themselves with dignity. They attend Islamic programmes but they do not pretend to join Muslims during worship. Jackson should learn from these gentlemen.

“By the way, is Jackson Adeleke’s salat at the Muslim praying ground motivated by guilty conscience? Is it pay-back for under-appointment and under-employment of Muslims in Osun State? Will the governor’s appearance at the praying ground on Salah day make up for the 17/7 deficit in the number of Muslim commissioners against their Christian counterparts? Who is fooling who?”

#GovernorAdelekePrays

#StopQuixoticPrayer

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

WE DEMAND END TO OPPRESSION OF NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

30^th March, 2025

ID AL-FITR MESSAGE:

WE DEMAND END TO OPPRESSION OF NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

As Nigerian Muslims join millions of their fellow faithfuls all over the world to mark the end of 2025 Ramadan season, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has demanded an end to the oppression of Nigerian Muslims.

According to the group, Nigerian Muslims remain under conquest until they are given all civil liberties due to them, including but not limited to the declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar (1^st Muharam) as a public holiday like 1^st January of every year.

This was stated in the Id Al-Fitr message released on Sunday, 30^th March, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“As Nigerian Muslims join millions of their fellow faithfuls all over the world to mark the end of 2025 Ramadan season, we send felicitations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

“As the beginning of Ramadan is believed to herald forgiveness while its middle is full of blessings and its end signals emancipation, we call for an end to all forms of oppression being visited upon Nigerian Muslims.

“We contend that Nigerian Muslims have been under conquest since the British invasion of the Sokoto Caliphate up to the last stand of Sultan Attahiru in 1903. From the look of things, they (Muslims) will remain under conquest until they are given all civil liberties due to them, including, but not limited to, the declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar (1^st Muharram) as a holiday like 1^st January of every year.

“We remind the Federal Government (FG) that it has been instrumental to the perpetuation of the persecution of Muslims in this country through its failure to declare the first day of the Islamic calendar (1^st Muharram) as a holiday like 1^st January of every year.

“We demand parity. Hijrah holiday is part of our Allah-given fundamental human rights. It is sad that only a few states have declared Hijrah holiday while FG has continued to dilly dally. Why should FG give the Christians 1^st January holiday nationwide while only a few states recognize the Islamic holiday of 1^st Muharram. Isn’t what is good for the goose equally good for the gander? Or is Nigeria a Christian state?

“Nigerian Muslims are being treated like a conquered people. It is as if reminiscences of 1903 are being flashed before our eyes to remind us that we were once conquered. We are being treated like second class citizens.

“We demand equal rights and justice. 1^st January is equal to 1^st Muharram in inter-religious tolerance equation. There is no better time than now. The fact that more than eight states have recognized 1^st Muharram and declared it as a holiday makes it a strong case even for FG and we see no reason why a Muslim-Muslim ticket will hesitate to liberate Nigerian Muslims who have been under the yoke of religious marginalization for so long.

“Perhaps FG will understand where MURIC is coming from if it realizes that it has been a long struggle all along. There was a time in this country when Muslims could not go for ‘Id (Salah) prayer because the colonial government did not declare holiday for Salah. Muslims were forced to go to work or school on their Salah day.

“There was a time when Maolud Nabiyyi (the birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW) was not recognized whereas that of Jesus (peace be upon him) has been recognized from day one of the 1914 amalgamation. Is this justice?

“We have always had to agitate for freedom stage by stage. We struggled separately for Id al-Kabir, then for Id al-Fitr and later for Maolud! Till today we are still struggling for 1^st Muharram. When cometh freedom? When?  

“Although the British Christian colonial masters who robbed the ‘conquered’ Muslims of all their civil liberties have left since 1960 and 1963, successive Nigerian governments have failed to set the Muslims free.

“Enough is enough. We reject a life of subservience. The current administration must let the Muslims go. We demand the declaration of the next 1^st Muharram, 1447 which is equivalent to Friday, 27^th June, 2025 as a national public holiday.”

#FederalGovernmentOfNigeria

#1stMuharramHoliday

#1stJanuaryHoliday

#WeDemandParity

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

SHARI’AH PANEL: WE WELCOME MAKINDE’S U-TURN – MURIC

 

28^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

SHARI’AH PANEL: WE WELCOME MAKINDE’S U-TURN – MURIC

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, yesterday at a Ramadan lecture sponsored by the Oyo State government, acknowledged the legitimacy of Shari’ah and gave his nod to the use of Shari’ah panels by Muslims in Oyo State.

Reacting to this development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has expressed satisfaction with the governor’s new position. However, the human rights group said it hoped the statement had no political undertone specifically aimed at 2027.

MURIC’s reaction came via a statement released on Friday, 28^th March, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“The Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, yesterday at a public function acknowledged the legitimacy of Shari’ah and gave his nod to the use of Shari’ah panels by Muslims in Oyo State (https://insideoyo.com/shariah-law-makinde-clears-air-says-we-will-support-anything-in-line-with-constitution/).

“The governor spoke at the annual Iftar (Ramadan evening breakfast) programme organized by the Oyo State Government for Muslims in the state which was held on on Wednesday, 26^th March, 2025 at the frontage of the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

“MURIC welcomes this development. It is a significant milestone in the Shari’ah debate and an important landmark in the dialogue between Yoruba Muslims and the rest of the population in Yorubaland, particularly the Christians and the traditionalists.

“This new position stands in contradistinction to the widely circulated threat to challenge Shari’ah in court allegedly made by Governor Seyi Makinde (https://punchng.com/makinde-plans-suit-as-oyo-sharia-panel-begins-sitting/). It is noteworthy that the governor used the occasion to deny planning to go to court.  

“Every Nigerian can now see that Shari’ah is constitutional. No court in the land can dismiss it and no reasonable person can challenge it in court no matter how highly placed. We are vindicated.

“Those who have been misinformed should learn to accept this fact. Truth is colourless. Truth uses no makeup. It needs no embellishment. It is constant. The Bible says, ‘You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free’ (John 8:32).

“We only hope that Makinde’s volte-face at the Iftar on Wednesday has no political undertone specifically aimed at his 2027 presidential ambition. Anyway, we will cross that bridge when we get there.

“Meanwhile it is important to clarify a remark made by Governor Makinde in his speech which is already being misunderstood. His words, ‘So, on this particular Sharia Panel, whoever wants to patronise it and feels it is an alternative dispute mechanism, it is okay’ has been misinterpreted in some quarters to mean that even Christians are free to approach the Shari’ah panel.

“We do not want to believe this was the governor’s intention. Part of the basic rules of Shari’ah is that Christians should not be involved in the operation of Shari’ah whether as plaintiffs or defendants. We therefore advise Christians and traditionalists to continue using their common and customary law. We are not interested in attracting adherents of other religions into Islam through Shari’ah.  

“MURIC feels sanctified that the governor now recognizes the Shari’ah panel as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism (ADR) capable of decongesting the heavy logjam of cases before the conventional courts.

“In his own words, the governor had said, ‘The interpretation on my own side is that, even in our families, it is not every issue we take to court. When people have disagreements, the elders in the family try to settle the dispute … It will help the government and ensure that the cases going to our judges are reduced… We will encourage alternative dispute resolution mechanism…’

“We urge Governor Seyi Makinde to go the whole hog. Now that he has admitted that Shariah is constitutional, he has a duty to protect the constitution which he swore to defend, including this constitutional Shari’ah, an integral part of our grund norm.

“The losers are the noise makers, the hysterical hooligans who threatened to use violence against Muslim leaders and their families and called us bastards and other unprintable names on account of the Shari’ah saga. What have you gained now? Makinde is here to deal with you. Seyi is now the undisputed defender of our Constitutional Shari’ah. All hail the governor!”

#GovernorSeyiMakinde

#ConstitutionalShariah

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

AVOID ALL-CHRISTIAN, ALL-MUSLIM PRINCIPAL OFFICERS IN NEW FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES – MURIC TELLS FG

 

26^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

AVOID ALL-CHRISTIAN, ALL-MUSLIM PRINCIPAL OFFICERS IN NEW FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES – MURIC TELLS FG

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has cautioned the Federal Government (FG) against the exclusion of Muslims in the appointments of principal officers and governing council members of new Federal Universities. The group advised FG to eschew a policy of exclusivity with Muslims as victims in its appointments. It said only thus can Muslims have a sense of belonging.

The full statement reads:

“The Federal Government (FG) announced names of members of the Governing Council and Principal Officers of some new Federal Universities yesterday, Tuesday, 25^th March, 2025. Others were announced earlier.

“To our dismay, we noticed that although there are instances where Muslims head Governing Councils, there are also universities where all the principal officers are  Christians. This should be avoided if we want to give all a sense of belonging.

“In particular, no federal university should have an all-Christian principal officers especially in areas where Muslims have at least 20% of the population. In like manner, no federal university should have an all-Muslim principal officers especially in places where the Christian population is up to 20%.

“Just as we have zero tolerance for marginalization when we are the victims, it is also not our wish to marginalize others. MURIC stands for justice, fairness and equity. Only thus can peace and progress be guaranteed for our dear nation.

“We prioritise the post of principal officers because they are the ones who are in charge of the day to day running of the universities. In general, we advise FG to eschew the tortuous policy of exclusivity with Muslims as victims in its appointments. Only thus can Muslims have a sense of belonging.”

#UniversityPrincipalOfficers

#AvoidAllChristianOfficers

#AvoidAllMuslimOfficers

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC SLAMS ADELEKE UNIVERSITY FOR DISRUPTING FASTING

 

20^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC SLAMS ADELEKE UNIVERSITY FOR DISRUPTING FASTING

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alleged that Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, has been disrupting Ramadan activities of its Muslim students. The organization also accused the tertiary institution of forcing Muslim students to attend church programmes.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, 20^th March, 2025 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The headquarters of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has received several complaints of attempts to tactically de-Islamise and forcefully christianise Muslim students in Adeleke University, Ede.

“The methods adopted by the university to achieve this objective include compelling attendance of all students (including the Muslims among them) at the university’s church programmes. The supererogatory prayer held in Ramadan evenings (tarawih)  was reportedly disrupted two days ago and the students were warned never to try it again.

“These are signs of religious intolerance. We have said it times without number that Christians in the South weaponize education to convert Muslims. As far back as year 2019, MURIC leveled serious allegation of religious persecution against Adeleke University. We also asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate the allegation.

“We said, ‘Adeleke University is a serial violator of Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslim students. This institution forces Muslim students to attend church on Sundays. It makes it mandatory for students living in the hostel to attend church every Wednesday and Saturday.

“We continued, ‘The practice of any other faith on campus except Christianity is banned. Muslim students must not be seen observing Salat. Hijab is a taboo in Adeleke University. Yet all these Islamophobic practices are smartly hidden from prospective students of the institution until they have paid the exorbitant school fees and can no longer withdraw.’

“‘In particular, we invite NUC to take a look at the students’ handbook of this institution, especially pages 7, 49, 50, 56 and 60. These pages, to our mind, contain rules that infringe on the religious freedom of Muslim students. As a regulating body, NUC has a duty to intervene in this matter as part of its oversight function on Nigeria’s universities’, our 2019 statement added (https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/18/adeleke-university-accused-forcing-muslims-attend-church/).

“We are deeply worried that five years down the line, Adeleke University continues to victimize, stereotype and traumatize Muslim students. Though not all, other private universities in the South are also neck deep into these obnoxious and ignoble practices and MURIC has cried out against them before.

“In other climes, mere exposure of this kind of inhuman and denigrating treatment in the media is enough to spur the relevant agencies to action. Why is that of Nigeria different? What are the public affairs of those agencies doing? What is NUC waiting for? This issue is already in the public domain and NUC is part of this larger society. The Muslim parents who reported are taxpayers. They want this investigated.

“We remind Muslim parents and Muslim students of our warning issued in 2022 asking them to avoid Christian private universities (https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/muric-warns-muslims-to-avoid-christian-owned-private-universities/).

“We are aware that Christian private universities deceive Muslim students into committing themselves to their institutions by hiding their religious prejudices until the Muslim students pay school fees and are fully registered. This is an area in which oversight authorities should show interest. Private universities must manifest transparency and this should begin from showing their religious inclination.”

#AdelekeUniversity

#NationalUniversitiesCommission

#WakeUpNUC

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).