‎MURIC COMMENDS ATIKU FOR VIBRANCY, VERSATILITY, RESILIENCE

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎8th September, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎MURIC COMMENDS ATIKU FOR VIBRANCY, VERSATILITY, RESILIENCE

‎An Islamic activism platform, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his vibrancy, versatility and resilience.

‎The human rights group spoke on Tuesday, 8th September, 2026 through its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

‎The full statement reads:

‎"As the political arena came fully alive for the 2027 general elections, we find it necessary to commend one of the opposition figures in the presidential race, namely, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for his vibrancy, versatility and resilience.

‎"Though he has contested for the position six times in the past, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has remained unrelenting. His doggedness has become legendary.

‎"In particular, the dynamism in his method of interrogating the activities of the current administration are fascinating, inspiring and didactic. The young generation of politicians have a lot to learn from his approach as an opposition figure.

‎"Atiku comes across as an experienced, articulate, bold and enterprising politician. He has been far ahead of Peter Obi in giving the Tinubu administration a run for its money although some Nigerians are yet to appreciate his efforts.

‎He remains the man to watch in 2027.

‎"This commendation should not be mistaken for an endorsement, MURIC has no preferred candidate or political party yet. We will speak on that at the appropriate time."

‎

‎#2027

‎#AtikuAbubakar
‎
‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

‎CALL MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO ORDER - MURIC

 MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎5th September, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎CALL MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO ORDER - MURIC

‎Civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (rtd) of exhibiting personal vendetta against Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in his recent interview with a television station. The group therefore appealed to the Federal Government to call the minister to order.

‎MURIC made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday, 5th September, 2026 by it's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

‎"The Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (rtd) granted an interview to a television station on Thursday, 3rd September, 2026 in which he made some unpalatable and incorrect statements about Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

‎"For instance, he said, 'I can tell you people what he has done to people living in Kaduna state from his own area. He had just personal [issues] with friends. The next thing, he sends a bulldozer to bulldoze your house down (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/09/he-did-terrible-things-in-kaduna-musa-accuses-el-rufai-of-dividing-kaduna/amp/).

‎"Just listen to that. Everyone knows that El-Rufai is Mr. No Nonsense. He injected sanity in Abuja when he was the Minister of the FCT. He did the same in Kaduna but look at the way the minister is putting it to us. Is that what really happened?

‎"We put it to the Minister that he is manipulating the minds of Nigerians. This is most unfair. The honourable minister exhibited personal vendetta against Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in that interview. El-Rufai may be in custody. But there are people who will not keep quiet over this. We are among such people. MURIC will speak truth to power.

‎"The minister also accused El-Rufai of deliberately planning the killing of the people of Southern Kaduna (https://opr.news/2e0644f260903en_ng?link=1&client=news).

‎"It is all lies from the pit of Jahannam. The minister exhibited humongous traits of personal vendetta. How can a minister be referring to 'my people' as if he is the minister of Southern Kaduna alone and not that of Nigeria?

‎"It is such a pity that a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can forget his mandate and come out publicly to promote his own tribe. A minister is expected to speak for the country but here we have a minister speaking for his tribe.

‎"It is the height of ethnic jingoism. This minister of defense has got it all wrong. He is being paid to defend the whole of Nigeria but now his focus is the people of Southern Kaduna.

‎"This interview is in bad taste. It is provocative. The minister has also picked the wrong time to launch his tirade against an opponent who is in captivity and cannot defend himself. It is grossly unfair, reckless and discourteous.

‎"This interview suffers from acute desertification of tact. Yes, it is lack of tact to come on national television to lambast a man who is in custody particularly linking his ordeal with what he did to your own people when we all know that the man you are demarketing did not drop from Jupiter. He also has his own people and his people are not fools. No, sir, this is not the way to heal wounds.

‎"We appeal to the Federal Government to call the Minister of Defense to order. We want people who will douse tension not only in Kaduna State but all over Nigeria, not people who will incite one section against the other."

‎#FG

‎#MinisterOfDefense
‎#ProvocativeInterview
‎#Elrufai
‎
‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

APOLOGIZE TO TEARGASED PENSIONERS - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎1^st September2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎APOLOGIZE TO TEARGASED PENSIONERS - MURIC

‎‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the teargas attack on retired workers of the Lagos State Government protesting against the delay in the payment of their pensions yesterday. The Islamic human rights organization demanded apology for the irrational attack. It also called upon the state government to expedite action in the settlement of their entitlements. 

‎‎This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 1st September, 2026 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎‎"Angry pensioners held a protest at Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday, Monday, 31st August, 2026 to show their grievances over long delay of payment of their entitlements, including unpaid pension increases, wage awards and other outstanding benefits.

‎‎"The protest was organized by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme. 

‎‎"But the protest took an unexpected turn when teargas was fired at the senior citizens forcing them to flee the premises (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/police-teargas-pensioners-protesting-pesion-arrears-at-lagos-house/amp/). 

‎‎"We strongly condemn the use of teargas on non-violent protesters, least of all senior citizens many of whom are frail and vulnerable. It was most reckless, unprofessional and lacking in all forms of civility.

‎‎"We therefore demand unreserved apology from the state police command. People who have served the state government in their prime with all their strength and intellect  deserve to be treated with respect and dignity at retirement.

‎"In the same vein, we charge the state government to expedite action on the settlement of all their entitlements. It is the height of wickedness and insensitivity to procrastinate in the matter of giving pensioners their due".

‎

‎#LagosPoliceCommand

‎#LASG

‎#ApologiseToPensioners

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

DOTUN OLADIPO: MURIC DONDOLES FAMILY, NUJ

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎27^th August, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎DOTUN OLADIPO: MURIC DONDOLES FAMILY, NUJ

‎‎An Islamic human rights organiza
tion, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has sent a message of condolence to the family of Dotun Oladipo and the Nigerian Union of Journalists over his sudden death. The group described the late journalist as a liberal, tolerant and quintessential media practitioner.

The press statement was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“The death has been announced of Dotun Oladipo, publisher of The Eagle Online newspaper. He was alleged to have died suddenly within his office premises.

“Dotun Oladipo’s sudden death is a great loss. He has left a yawning vacuum in the practice of journalism in Nigeria. A prolific writer and microscopic analyst, the late publisher gave a level playing field to all. He gave voice to the voiceless. Dotun will be remembered for his warmth, his simplicity and his objectivity. His death is devastating. MURIC will miss him terribly.

“We commiserate with his family. They should take heart. We urge them to find relief in Dotun’s good life. It is not how long you live but how well. Dotun lived a fulfilled life. He served humanity.

 

“We also condole the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). This is one of the hazards of the profession. It is replete with pressure but it makes heroes of committed journalists like Dotun. We salute him and his living colleagues.”

 

‎‎#DotunOladipo

‎#EagleOnline

‎#NUJ

 

‎‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC TACKLES IMMIGRATIONS FOR ACCEPTING EQUIPMENT FROM CHURCH

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎25^th August, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎MURIC TACKLES IMMIGRATIONS FOR ACCEPTING EQUIPMENT FROM CHURCH

‎‎A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Nigerian immigrations department of accepting gifts of electronic equipment from a church for official use in immigration offices. 

‎‎The allegation was contained in a statement circulated to newsmen on Tuesday, 25th August, 2026 by the Executive Director of the civil liberties organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎‎"We have just uncovered another trick being used to deprive Muslims of their Allah-given fundamental human rights. Churches collude with ministries and public agencies to make their services alien to Islamic conditions. 

‎‎"Few weeks ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints donated high-tech equipment to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) ostensibly to enhance immigration services for travellers in Nigeria.

‎‎"Among the equipment donated were 20 HP Envy All-in-One computers, 20 ARH passport readers, 20 Logitech webcams, two HP LaserJet printers, and five HP ZBook laptop computers (https://thesun.ng/church-donates-high-tech-equipment-to-nigerian-immigration-to-boost-service-delivery/?amp). 

‎‎"We smell a rat. The Nigerian immigrations is under the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs. Why should a church donate sensitive equipment to this department? What is the role of the Federal Government if churches are now donating to ministries? When did immigrations become an orphanage entitled to collect donated materials from churches?

‎"We condemn this transaction in the strongest terms. It stinks kilometers away. Pathological corruption is stamped on it front, back, left, right and centre.

‎‎"The Implications of a church donating such equipment to immigrations are quite disturbing. It can be a form of inducement.  It may be a strategy for ensuring that church members secure immigration jobs whether qualified or not.  

‎‎"This will enable the church to fill immigrations with Christian workers at the expense of Muslim job seekers. Those who secure jobs through the church may receive briefings to go all out to persecute Muslims who apply for international passports. 

‎‎"No wonder, therefore, that there have been many reports from Muslim women who were forced to remove their hijabs as well as Muslim males forced by immigration officials to remove their turbans or caps at the point of capturing. Those who refused to remove their Islamic wears were sent away. 

‎‎"Equipment donated to immigrations are capable of inciting immigration officials against Muslims who apply for international passports or those who seek one service or another. It also serves as a source of influence and control. It curries undue favour. 

‎‎"Besides, MURIC suspects that the equipments had been tampered with before delivery and programmed to reject Muslim mode of dressing like women's hijab, men's turban and caps. Such manipulations are designed to make it impossible for the machines to capture the images of Muslims dressed as Muslims.

‎‎"There is also an allegation that the gadgets display the church's name at Abuja airport as the donors. This is an eyesore designed to intimidate travellers who do not belong to the church.

‎‎"Meanwhile a report on the church's website says the donation was based on request from immigration. Quoted verbatim, the website claims that: 'In July 2025, the Church received a request from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for computer systems to improve the operational efficiency of their MIDAS, E-Gate, e-Visa Clearance, e-Landing/Exit Card, and other essential platforms at the airport. The new systems would benefit all travelers, including facilitating the processing of arriving missionaries to Nigeria and assisting with their immigration status processing at the NIS headquarters' (https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-donates-high-tech-equipment-to-the-nigeria-immigration-service). 

‎‎"This dimension evokes greater curiousity. Should sensitive government ministries and agencies go about begging? Is this the standard practice? Is it professional? Does this promote probity, transparency and accountability? 

‎‎"To add salt to injury, the church had the temerity to claim that the 'Donation enhances processing for travellers and missionaries'. But must missionaries receive special treatment from immigrations at the airport? Are missionaries not ordinary citizens like the rest of us? Have we not heard of missionaries attempting to smuggle hard drugs through the airports?

‎‎"MURIC calls for a probe into this allegation. Our women, our Imams and other Muslims have suffered untold hardship in the hands of Immigration officials to allow this to go unchallenged. We will be failing in our duty as an Islamic human rights organization if we treat this report with levity.

‎‎"In like manner, the ministry of Internal Affairs will be doing Nigerians great disservice if it fails to investigate this allegation and make its findings public".

‎‎#Immigrations

‎#ChurchDonation

‎#Inducement

‎#Graft

 

‎‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

STOP SOKOTO KILLINGS OR RESIGN: MURIC TELLS DEFENSE MINISTER

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎

‎22nd August, 2026

‎

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎STOP SOKOTO KILLINGS OR RESIGN: MURIC TELLS DEFENSE MINISTER

‎

‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), to stop the killings in Sokoto or resign from his post. The group hinged the call on the minister's vow to end killings on assumption of office, a promise he has not been able to keep. 

‎The call was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday, 22nd August, 2026 by the group's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎"Killings and kidnappings around Nigeria has continued unabated. The level of insecurity has risen to all time high. But these terrorist activities have been concentrated on Sokoto State in particular in the past two years. 

‎"For brevity, we will mention only the 43 people and an Imam who were killed in Sokoto in the past three weeks. 19 others were abducted in the same state around the same time. It is needless to mention the fact that all the victims were Muslims (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2026/08/21/bandits-kill-imam-43-others-abduct-19-in-three-sokoto-attacks-within-a-week/). 

‎"These incessant attacks on Sokoto State have far-reaching effect on both the Nigerian security architecture as well as the Nigerian populace. 

‎"In the first place it underlines the weakness of our military and its failure to secure the citizenry. Secondly, killings and abductions in Sokoto or any type of attack that happens in the state symptomises aggression on the seat of the Nigerian caliphate. 

‎"If Abuja is Nigeria's political capital, if Lagos is the country's economic hub, then Sokoto is the heart of Islamdom in Nigeria. 

‎"Let it be known far and wide that any attack on Sokoto is deemed by Nigerian Muslims as an attack on Muslims in general. This is a factor the military must bear in mind. 

‎"We therefore hold the Nigerian Army responsible for the security lapses in and around Sokoto. We expect nothing less than iron-clad defense mechanism in that axis. 

‎"To this end, we remind the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), of his vow on resumption of office as minister. He promised to stop killings (https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/05/we-dont-have-time-killing-of-nigerians-must-stop-defence-minister-musa-blows-hot). 

‎"Nay and more than that. In his own words, he vowed not to fail himself and the Nigerian Nation: '...I knew that I could not afford to fail myself, fail my nation, fail my family...' (https://dawnherald.ng/2025/12/04/i-cant-afford-to-fail-nigerians-defence-minister-vows-to-end-killings/). 

‎"But today Sokoto is under siege. Farmers cannot go to their farms. Villagers seek safe haven in distant lands. City dwellers sleep with one eye open. Travellers have become human merchandise, abducted, humiliated, dehumanised and turned to meer goods whose price must be haggled with criminals. 

‎"The Defense Minister has reneged on his pledge to stop killings. He has failed the people of Sokoto. He has failed Nigerians.

‎"Just yesterday, the Department of State Services (DSS) warned that terrorists were planning to attack tertiary institutions in Sokoto State (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/terrorists-planning-to-attack-sokoto-tertiary-institutions-dss/amp/?utm_source=beloud.com&utm_medium=beloud.com). 

‎"This is the last straw that broke the camel's back. We cannot take any more. The Defense Minister cannot eat his cake and have it. He cannot stand akimbo while the seat of the caliphate is burning and still keep his ministry. 

‎"We therefore give the Minister of Defense 14 days starting from Monday, 24th August 2026 to make vissible, tangible and reliable changes in the security paraphernalia in and around Sokoto such that the state will become impregnable and unassailable. The city of Sokoto must be swept clean. In particular, no single ant must climb on the Sultan's skin. 

‎"The alternative is for the minister to submit his letter of resignation on or before the ultimatum. There is no other option on the table".

‎#SokotoKillings

‎#SeatOfTheCaliphate

‎#SecureOrResign

‎#CapitalOf160MillionMuslims

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

 

BUS PREACHING: MEDIA, ELITES MUST NOT FAIL NIGERIANS - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

 

‎20th August, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

BUS PREACHING: MEDIA, ELITES MUST NOT FAIL NIGERIANS - MURIC

‎Faith-based civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has taken the media and elites to task on the raging debate on bus preaching. 

‎In a press release issued on Thursday, 20th August, 2026, the group's Executive Director complained about the silence of both the media and Nigerian elites. He warned that they must not fail Nigerians.

‎"As the debate on the issue of preaching inside commercial buses raged, we have noticed the loud silence of both the media and Nigerian elites on the subject matter. 

‎"Ceteris paribus, panels upon panels would have featured ad infinitum on our various television channels and radio stations where the pros and cons would be extensively analysed to educate the public.

‎"But surprisingly this has not been so. What we have are threats from the altars and the dogmatic positioning from clerics.  The usual enrichment and garnishing from the media and the elites are completely absent. 

‎"This is quite strange. Can the fourth estate of the realm claim not to know the correct position? Are Nigerian elites deliberately denying the reading public their eye-opening, engaging and refreshing articles? Why are they not giving us their opinions on bus preaching in their weekly columns and editorials? Why are they leaving the table to the clerics alone?

‎"MURIC frowns at this complacency. We call upon the media to wake up to its responsibility. The role of the media is to educate, to entertain, to inform and to instruct while using those attributes necessary to play the roles, namely, truthfulness, knowledge, constructiveness and courage.

‎"Coming from the Latin word 'medium', the media serves as a medium of communication. Isolating itself from this debate is therefore a disservice to Nigerians. The absence of the media from the table means we are not communicating. 

‎"Three of those four fundamental roles are being abandoned here. Nigerians need to be educated, to be informed and to be instructed on the burning issue of bus preaching. The media and the elites must therefore speak up. Silence is not an option. They cannot claim not to know the truth. They cannot claim not to know the ideal. 

‎"It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, 'Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly. Corroborating the Indian leader, Albert Einstein declared, 'The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them doing nothing'. 

‎"The Nigerian media cannot afford to stand akimbo while such aggressive debate is going on. It is about the right to enjoy a quiet ride. 

"The aloofness of the media in this conversation has created a yawning gap at the table. By now we should have been witnessing fiery discussions on television and radio on bus preaching. It ought to be so. It is an obligation and its absence points to a failure, a social decay and an unnecessary exhibition of prejudice.

‎"Warning against prejudice in the journalism profession, Walter Cronkite said, 'It is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. That is simply basic journalism'. But Leslie Moonves contended that 'Journalism has changed and partisanship is very much a part of journalism now'. 

‎"Yet we know where the Nigerian press is coming from. Rev Henry Townsend who introduced Christianity to Nigeria in 1842 was the same man who started the first newspaper 'Iwe Irohin Yoruba' in Nigeria in 1859. This may be why many journalists feel a symbiotic nexus exists between them and a particular religion. However, only those who succeed in severing that invisible spiritual umbilical cord can lay claim to professionalism.‎

‎"So far the Nigerian press has not been known to sit on the fence in matters like this. They have always been outspoken. We must therefore ask: who is gagging the press on the issue of bus preaching?

‎"We say 'No' to selective articulation. It was Benjamin Franklin who spoke of being an 'impartial printer'. Objectivity is the golden norm of journalism. The media must speak out boldly. 

‎"Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, 'Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.' Martin Luther King Jr rounded it up with the words, 'There comes a time when silence is betrayal'. The press must not fail the Nigerian people".

‎

‎#BusPreaching

‎#MediaMustSpeak

‎#ElitesMustSpeak

‎#NoToSelectiveArticulation

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).