3 MASQUERADERS REMANDED IN ENUGU, ALLEGED APOLOGY IN ONDO: MURIC TASKS ONDO POLICE ON A TALE OF 2 ATTACKS, 2 COMMANDS

 

3^rd July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
3 MASQUERADERS REMANDED IN ENUGU, ALLEGED APOLOGY IN ONDO: MURIC TASKS ONDO POLICE ON A TALE OF 2 ATTACKS, 2 COMMANDS

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called attention to the arrest of three masqueraders by the police in Enugu for assaulting members of the public whereas apology alone came from Ondo over a worse offence by masquerades in Oke-Agbe, Ondo State.

 

The organization therefore tasked the Ondo State Police Command to explain why an ordinary letter of apology is all the Muslim victims of Oke Agbe masquerade attack deserve after an Imam, his wives and children were brutally attacked since 12^th June, 2025.

 

This was made known to newsmen in a press statement issued on Thursday, 3^rd July, 2025 by Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director and Founder of the organization.

The statement reads:

 

“Three masqueraders, Emeka Eze, Omeke Uchechukwu, and Malachi Michael, who assaulted members of the public and inflicted bodily harm on them have been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command (https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/three-masqueraders-arraigned-remanded-in-enugu/).

“The incident occurred along Aku Road, Nsukka, Enugu State on 22^nd June, 2025 while celebrating the Oriokpa Masquerade in Enugu. The three have been arraigned and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre in the state. The case was adjourned to July 31, 2025, for further hearing.

“It will be recalled that masquerades also invaded the mosque and house of an Imam at Oke Agbe, Akoko, Ondo State on Thursday, 12^th June, 2025. The attackers mercilessly brutalised the Imam’s wives and children. It is noteworthy that all the Muslims got from a parley involving the police, the victims and the attackers is an alleged letter of apology.

“We are obliged to compare and contrast the two incidents. It is a tale of two attacks in two different states: one in Ondo, the other in Enugu. The Ondo attack occurred first, since 12^th June yet there has been no arrests, just meetings. The Enugu attack occurred almost two weeks later, on 22^nd June but arrests were made immediately. The suspects were arraigned and remanded. These contrasting developments must arouse the curiosity of honest Nigerians.

 

“In our humble view, the offence of Ondo masquerades is worse because they attacked people of another faith. They beat up the Imam, his wives and children and invaded a mosque. Violence against women is involved. It is also aggravated provocation considering the fact that the attack generated tons of tension among Nigerian Muslims. It was therefore capable of igniting religious crisis whose consequences cannot be pre-determined.

 

“Although we called for the arrest of the perpetrators of that hideous crime (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/06/attack-on-ondo-muslim-leader-family-muric-calls-for-arrest-prosecution-of-perpetrators/#google_vignette), none has been arrested at least not to our knowledge, if any.

 

“We stand to be corrected if arrests have been made in this regard but such information is not in the public domain as at the time of issuing our statement. Instead of arrests, all we have been hearing is meetings upon meetings.

 

“We therefore call on the Ondo State Police Command to make clarifications regarding the alleged letter of apology because MURIC does not engage in mischief-making.

“We believe that those who claim to be making attempts at dousing tension are looking for ways to coerce victims of the attack. The police should be able to read between the lines.

“It was the same people who imposed outrageous fines on the victims: nine goats, seven sheep and 200 pieces of kolanuts! That was after being thoroughly beaten and hospitalized. The law should therefore have been allowed to take its full course. The sanctity of the rule of law has been challenged here.

“This issue has gone beyond the Imam of Oke Agbe and his family alone. Locus standi not withstanding, the attack generated a lot of heat across Nigeria. That is why any outcome, particularly what the Ondo State Police Command does with the matter should be generally acceptable to the direct victims (the Imam and his family) as well as the indirect victims (Nigerian Muslim community) of the attack.

“The general public is concerned. Muslims throughout the country are asking questions. They want to know if masquerades have the right to molest innocent people at will.

“They want to know if the adherents of one faith have the right to invade the homes and places of worship of others and inflict grievous harm on followers of another religion. They want to know if masquerades and their backers have immunity from arrest. They want to know if the adherents of different religions are equal before the law.

“Outright police inaction or its treatment of attacks on Muslims with kid gloves will naturally encourage other attacks. This has been demonstrated by examples of other attacks on Muslims in the same zone with little or no police reaction.

“Exempli gratia, masquerades attacked Muslim worshippers inside Ikun-Ekiti Central Mosque, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State on 31^st May, 2017. The Chief Imam, Alhaji Abdul-Rasak Abubakar-Bello, received several stitches on his head at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. Five other Muslim worshippers were hospitalized after that attack.

“The records are there in the hospital. Fortunately, too, internet does not forget (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/masquerades-invade-mosque-attack-worshippers-destroy-properties-ekiti/#google_vignette). But there is no record of any arrests. `

“Had arrests been made on every occasion in which masquerades and traditionalists attacked Muslims in the past, the brazen and unprovoked attacks on mosques and Imams, particularly in Ondo and Ekiti states would have stopped. It must also be noted that Muslims have always been the victims, not the attackers.

“We are shocked by the emerging sharp contrast despite the fact that the same laws being used in Enugu State are being used in Ondo. Both states are also in the same country applying the same constitution. Nay, it is the same Nigeria Police.

“We want Ondo Police Command to educate us. What is the use of a letter of apology to the Muslim victims and the Nigerian Muslim community after the unprovoked attack, the physical injuries on wives and children and the widespread psychological trauma suffered by Nigerian Muslims? If it is different strokes for different folks, should it be different actions for different faiths by the police?”

#OndoPoliceCommand

#JusticeForOkeAgbeMuslimVictims

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

HIJRAH HOLIDAY: FG MISSED GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, FAILED TO ACT IN LOCO PARENTIS – MURIC

 

30^th June, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
HIJRAH HOLIDAY: FG MISSED GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, FAILED TO ACT IN LOCO PARENTIS – MURIC

Nigerian Muslims joined the rest of the Muslim world in celebrating the beginning of the Islamic new year (hijrah) on Thursday, 26^th June, 2025. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has lamented that whereas the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria did not declare the day as a public holiday, several Nigerian states, North and South, gave special recognition to the Muslim calendar by declaring the day as a public holiday.

 

By failing to declare the first day of hijrah as a holiday, MURIC added, FG not only missed the golden opportunity to be part of the day’s glamour, not only failed to manifest unreserved goodwill, but also failed to act in loco parentis by leading the declaration of the freedom day. The group also described the situation as the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

 

A statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 30^th June, 2025, reads:

“Nigerian Muslims joined the rest of Islamdom to mark the beginning of the Islamic new year (Hijrah 1447) on Thursday, 26^th June, 2025.

 

“Although the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria did not declare the day as a public holiday, several Nigerian states, North and South, gave special recognition to the Muslim calendar by declaring its first day as a public holiday.

 

“By failing to declare the first day of the Islamic calendar as a holiday, FG not only missed the golden opportunity to be part of the day’s glamour, not only failed to manifest unreserved goodwill, but also failed to act in loco parentis by leading the declaration of the freedom day.

 

“This strange situation is the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It is paradoxical because we see FG as the parent of all the states and the states as its offsprings or children. While the blame for FG cascades down to successive administrations since independence in 1960, the current administration must take the lion share because of the high hopes and confidence reposed in it the Muslim electorate.

 

“Prominent among the states that declared hijrah holiday are the following in alphabetical order: Borno (Thursday), Jigawa (Friday), Kano (Thursday), Katsina (Friday), Kwara (Thursday), Kebbi (Friday), Niger (Friday), Osun (Friday), Oyo (Friday), Sokoto (Thursday) and Zamfara (Friday).

“Yet a disturbing phenomenon may be noticed in the choice of days picked for holidays in different states. While Borno, Kano, Kwara and Sokoto picked Thursday, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Osun, Oyo and Zamfara declared Friday.

“This disparity and lack of harmony can only be blamed on FG because as the centre and pilot of the nation’s air carrier, FG is expected to lead the states. Had FG made a declaration the states would have fallen behind it, pronto.

“But FG chose to sit on the fence and elected to do no more than issue an official statement merely admonishing Muslims but devoid of any real and concrete declaration capable of emancipating them from neo-colonial shackles FG as the parent body failed to act in loco parentis. It left Muslims scattered like wild oats as some went for Thursday while others elected to declare Friday.

“It is hard to understand a situation whereby an integral part of the Nigerian population, nay, the greater percentage, will engage in an important religious activity to which FG will turn its back and close its eyes but the same FG will somersault ten times over while dancing to the rhythm of the music of a minority religious group.

Is that fair? How can FG continue to treat the adherents of one religion like genuine children and the adherents of another like slaves? Interestingly, too, this has been repeated under two Muslims who occupy Aso Rock. It is the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“It is interesting to note that hijrah day is not a new development. Many states had recognized it in the past and on annual basis. The Aregbesola administration in Osun State was the first to recognize it down South. But this was after decades of agitations by Islamic organisations.

 

“Many Muslim groups demanded holiday for this year’s celebration but FG gave them the cold shoulder as usual. Agitating for the day last week, the Muslim Media Practioners Association (MMPA) through their National President, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, called on FG to give Muslims the hijrah holiday ‘in line with the principles of fairness and justice to millions of Muslims in Nigeria as it was granted to the Christian brethren on every January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar’. (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2025/06/28/mmpn/).

“Before dropping the anchor, MURIC deems it germane to express its deepest gratitude to those state governments that gave due recognition to Hijrah day 1447, especially Osun and Oyo in the South. Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo failed to give the Muslim day due recognition. Ogun State governor allegedly refused to allow NACOMYO, an umbrella organization for Muslim youth, to use the state’s stadium for its programme slated for the day. By their fruits, thou shalt know them.

“In keeping with our tradition of pacific dispensation as well as staying in consonance with the avowed motto of our organization from inception (Dialogue, No Violence), we urge Nigerian Muslims to remain good ambassadors of Islam by embracing non-violence like MURIC in the pursuit of all their lofty goals, particularly Hijrah holiday. We will not give up because it is not over until it is over. Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta. No retreat, No Surrender.”

#HijrahHoliday

#JusticeForNigerianMuslims

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

SCHOOLS HANDOVER: MURIC ACCUSES GOV OKPEBHOLO OF ABDICATING RESPONSIBILITIES

 

25^th June, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
SCHOOLS HANDOVER: MURIC ACCUSES GOV OKPEBHOLO OF ABDICATING RESPONSIBILITIES

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State of abdicating his responsibilities. The allegation came after the governor approved the handing over of 8 schools in Auchi, Edo North, a Muslim dominated area as well as 28 other schools in other places, to Christian missionaries.

 

The Islamic human rights group demanded a reversal of the policy which it described as obnoxious, archaic, myopic, anachronistic and a tragic return to colonial days.

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, 25^th June, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Monday, June 16, 2025, approved the return of eight secondary and primary schools in Edo North, after meeting with the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Bishop Gabriel Dunia.

 

“But barely one week later, on Tuesday, 24^th June, 2025, the governor again approved 28 additional schools in Edo Central and South Senatorial districts to missionary organizations (https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2025/06/24/okpebholo-hands-over-more-school-to-missionary-organizations/).

 

“This policy is archaic, myopic, anachronistic and a tragic return to colonial days. It is an abdication of responsibilities. It is also pernicious, escapist and naive.

 

“MURIC frowns at the return of schools to missionaries for four main reasons. Firstly, both the federal and state governments have responsibilities to discharge in the area of education. Now, returning schools to missionaries is a stylish way of dodging responsibilities in this regard.

 

“Secondly, there is the likelihood of fall in qualities both among the teaching staff and equipment if schools are returned to missionaries. Can Edo State government beat its chest on this after returning schools?

 

“Edo State labelled its 2024 budget a ‘Budget of Finishing Strong’, but is this kind of abdication anywhere close to finishing strong? N32.2 billion was allocated to education out of the total budget of N325.3 billion representing 10%. This budget was later revised upward to N485.6 billion by the state’s House of Assembly. How does a state get more money yet drops its responsibilities to the electorate?

 

“Thirdly, Christian missionaries running schools in predominantly Muslim areas are known for their neo-colonial tendencies and the enslavement of Muslim students. They have been accused of forceful conversion, intimidation and coercion of Muslim students. Already, the edo State Council For Islamic Affairs have protested against this obnoxious policy (https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/islamic-council-urges-okpebholo-to-reconsider-returning-schools-to-missionaries/).

 

“Muslim students are most likely to be denied admission as conversion carrots are dangled before them as condition for entry. This was the case when schools were under Christian missionaries.

 

“Fourthly, return of schools to missionaries will rob students in missionary schools of the free education policy which is currently being provided by the Edo State government. This further cements our allegation that the state government is seeking to escape from its earlier committed responsibilities.

 

“We therefore urge Governor Monday Okpebholo to do a rethink over the issue of return of schools to missionaries.”

 

#GovMondayOkphebolo

#NoToReturnOfSchools

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

KILLING OF 8 MUSLIM PASSENGERS: MURIC SLAMS PLATEAU GOVERNOR FOR HIS UNAPOLOGETIC ‘APOLOGY’

 

23^rd June, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
KILLING OF 8 MUSLIM TRAVELLERS: MURIC SLAMS PLATEAU GOVERNOR FOR HIS UNAPOLOGETIC ‘APOLOGY’

A bus carrying twenty-eight (28) Muslim passengers, mostly Hausas, was ambushed by suspected youths from Mangun village, Mangu Local Government Area on Friday, 20^th June, 2025. Eight (8) Muslims were brutally murdered, six sustained various degrees of injuries, one very critical while four others are still missing.

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the killings. The group also slammed the Plateau State Governor for seeking to trivialize the attack on Muslim travellers by his kinsmen.

In a statement issued on Monday, 23^rd June, 2025, the group described the attack as most horrendous, totally egregious and categorically preposterous. It also referred to the governor’s statement after the attack as an unapologetic ‘apology’. The statement was signed by the Executive Director of the faith-based non-governmental organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“A bus carrying twenty-eight (28) Muslim passengers, mostly Hausas traveling from Zaria to Qua'an-Pan in Plateau State, was ambushed by suspected youths from Mangun Village, Mangu Local Government Area on Friday, 20^th June, 2025. Eight (8) Muslims were brutally murdered, six sustained various degrees of injuries, one very critical while four others are still missing.

“We condemn the killings in the strongest terms. It is most horrendous, totally egregious and categorically preposterous.

“This zone has become a killing ground particularly for Muslim travellers. Unfortunately the rampaging youth have also become unrepentant in their killing sprees going by other attacks on Muslims carried out by them in the past. Christians in Plateau State have become slaves of their own perception. To them, every Muslim is a legitimate killing target.

“But the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, did not help matters as he attempted to obfuscate the gravity of the offence under atmospheric volatility. He said the brutal killings occurred because the Muslim travellers ‘lost their way and inadvertently ran into a tense and volatile situation in Mangun, a community grappling with sustained terrorist attacks.’

“Since when did losing one’s way become an excuse for his being killed? How can a whole governor, a learned barrister at law, rationalise criminal and barbaric killing with a volatile and tense situation? Plateau State leaders and elders are complicit.

“We are therefore constrained to conclude that Governor Muftwang has not encouraged the youth under him to manifest remorse, rather he has sought to trivialise the odious and odoriferous crime. He has also given them kudos for a job well done. That statement is best described as an unapologetic ‘apology’.

“MURIC finds this disturbing considering several massacres and killings of Muslim travellers along the same axis which have ended in no punishment for the culprits but with the governors apologizing on behalf of the youth only for the same youth to go back to the roads seeking more Muslim travellers to ambush, kill, dismember and cannibalise (we have the records).

“We call the attention of the Federal Government, Nigerians of goodwill and the international community, particularly the gullible West and its asymmetrical media team to the terror zone of Plateau State where Muslims have become easy preys.

“The Divisional Police Officer in Mangun, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) must tell Nigerians how many suspects have been arrested over this horrible killings otherwise Nigerians can be assured that these blood thirsty youths will pounce on the next Muslim travellers who ply their route. Muslims have become endangered species in Plateau State.

“We commiserate with the bereaved families, the government of Kaduna State, the Emir of Zaria and the good people of Kaduna State. We also pray that the dead among the victims be granted al-jannah Firdaus.”

#28MuslimTravellers

#MutfwangUnapologeticApology

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MASQUERADE ATTACK: ALLOW ONDO POLICE TO DO ITS WORK – MURIC

 

22^nd June, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MASQUERADE ATTACK: ALLOW ONDO POLICE TO DO ITS WORK – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged that traditionalists are trying to frustrate police efforts to bring to book the brains behind the masquerade attack on Muslim women in Oke Agbe.

The Islamic human rights organization said the culprits must be arrested first before diplomatic moves can start. The group insisted that meetings convened by traditionalists at this time are designed to extenuate the offence.      

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, 22^nd June, 2025 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“Traditionalists are trying to frustrate police efforts to bring to book the brains behind the masquerade attack on Muslim women in Oke Agbe. It will be recalled that some masquerades invaded the mosque and house of Imam Muhammed Hussain Jegede Taqweem at Oke Agbe, Akoko, Ondo State on Thursday, 12^th June, 2025. His wives and children were brutalized in the attack.

“Although the victims were reportedly invited to the Ondo State Police command on Wednesday to state their side of the story, there has been no arrest up till now. This is partly due to attempts being made by traditionalists in the town to organize meetings between the attackers and the victims.

“We frown at the delay in arresting the culprits. The suspects must be arrested first before diplomatic moves can start. Meetings convened by traditionalists at this time are designed to extenuate the offence. They want to mull police action as if they are above the law. It is sheer impunity.    

“The King of Oke Agbe and his King-In-Council are complicit by virtue of the position they took ab initio. This is very clear from the toxic judgement they gave when they asked the Imam to bring nine goats, seven sheep and 200 pieces of kolanuts as fine after his mosque and house had been invaded and his family had been severely beaten. We declare any meeting convened by the same group as an attempt at covering up the crime.

“MURIC calls for the immediate arrest of Ajayi Odunayo Smart (a.k.a. Ijoba). He was the first to start flogging the Imam’s son before the other attackers started beating them. Other suspects include Balogun Adewale (Chief Olisa), Adeosun Leke (a.k.a. C Leke).

“The law must take its due course. Neither the king nor the Oba-in-Council is addressing the issue of justice and we are certain that the attack will be repeated again unless they are taught a lesson.

“Muslims have always been victims of masquerade attacks in Yorubaland. There is no record of a single attack initiated by Muslims on people of other faith in Yorubaland. Muslims have always been the victims. These attacks became frequent because the attackers have always gone free. We want to see a change this time. Enough is enough.

“Masquerades and their sponsors are not above the law. This attack must not be treated with levity. We must therefore allow the law to take its full course so that we can have an official record of the ugly incident. Arresting and prosecuting the suspects will act as a deterrent.

“This is how to curb crime in society. People have the propensity to grow wings if the full wrath of the law is not visited on them after committing crime. This is why both the king and his King-In-Council must allow the police to do its work. They should stop interfering.”

#MasqueradeAttack

#JusticeForOkeAgbeMuslimVictims

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

2027 WITHOUT VP SHETTIMA IS ILL-ADVISED – MURIC

 

19^th June, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
2027 WITHOUT VP SHETTIMA IS ILL-ADVISED – MURIC

Amidst controversies surrounding the 2027 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the likelihood of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picking another running mate, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed displeasure with the idea of replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The Islamic human rights group argued that such replacement will be ill-advised. It therefore advised the president and the ruling party to consult widely before taking a decision on the matter.

The group spoke on Thursday, 19^th June, 2025 via a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

#2027PresidentialElection

#RetainVPKashimShettima

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)