2nd
November, 2020
PRESS RELEASE:
STOP BURNING MOSQUES IN IGBOLAND -
MURIC
Two mosques were set
ablaze by the Igbo in Enugu on Saturday, 31st October, 2020. The
Islamic School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State has also received threats of impending
invasion. It will be recalled that 11 (eleven) Muslims were killed during the
#EndSARS protests in Port Harcourt and Orlu while the Orlu Central Mosque was
completely destroyed barely two weeks ago. Markets belonging to Muslims in the
region were also attacked and properties worth millions of naira were
destroyed, including whole trailers with the goods.
The Nigerian Islamic
human rights group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the attacks on
Muslims in Igboland. MURIC called for a halt to the burning of mosques in the
South East and South South. The organization also appealed to the Inspector
General of Police to protect Muslims as well as their corporate and individual
properties in the region.
MURIC’s appeal came
via a press statement issued on Monday, 2nd November, 2020 by its
Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“Christians in Igboland are not yet satisfied with the
cold-blooded killing of 11 (eleven) Muslims during #EndSARS protests. They are
thirsty for more blood. They attacked two mosques in Nsukka on Saturday, 31st
October, 2020. These were the mosque at Old Barracks junction and the Central
Mosque on Eden Road, Nsukka.
“The fracas reportedly started after a
Muslim lady got into an argument with a keke Napep driver over transport fare.
It is becoming glaring that there is a conspiracy to wipe out Muslims in
Igboland and any little excuse is seized upon to descend on Muslims living in
their midst.
“Even as we go to press, the only
Islamic school in the whole Eastern Nigeria which is in Afikpo, Ebonyi State,
is under palpable and severe threat. The school management has received about
three threat messages in the past one week alone. Attack on the school is
imminent and the state government has not uttered a word. This school is a
boarding institution with about 250 students in its hostels. Those students
came from all over Nigeria. What does the governor of Ebonyi think will happen
if 250 Muslim students are slaughtered under his watch?
“MURIC appeals to the Inspector General of Police to protect Muslims and
their corporate and individual properties in Igboland. In the same manner, we
remind the governors of Eastern and South-South states that the buck stops on
their tables. As the chief security officers in their respective states, they
have the responsibility to protect all citizens under them. We are compiling
reports of attacks on Muslims and their properties in the region.
“We demand adequate compensation for victims of Igbo religious
fanaticism. Families of deceased Muslims must receive commensurate
compensation. The governor of Enugu State owes it a duty to rebuild the two mosques
which were burnt in Nsukka on Saturday. Only thus can he assure Nigerians that
he did not give tacit approval to attacks on his Muslim subjects.
“MURIC calls the attention of Nigerians and the international community
to the current trend of constant and unprovoked attacks on Muslims, the killing
of innocent Muslims, the burning of their mosques and the destruction of their
individual properties in Igboland and South-South Nigeria. It should be noted
now that Christians are the first to unleash violence on Nigerian Muslims and
the latter are not even retaliating.
“We note with disgust the hypocritical
silence of the unholy alliance of the Middle Belt, the Northern Christian
Elders Forum, Afenifere, Ohaneze and the Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN). All hell would have been let loose had it been Christians who were being
killed. But none of them feels concerned now because Muslims are at the
receiving end. None of them issued any statement condemning the unprovoked
killing of Muslims and none of them called the killers to order. Rather, they
are encouraging their youths to shed more Muslim blood.
“They are used to hearing the White House asking Nigerian authorities, ‘Why
are you killing Christians in Nigeria?’ Ironically, nobody has asked the White
House, ‘Why are you killing American blacks?’ We denounce Western asymmetric scale
of justice that looks the other way when Nigerian Christians are killing
Muslims.
“We charge the West, particularly the United States, to re-examine the
situation in Nigeria within the real context of true events. Stories of
Christians being killed are, more often than not, marketing gimmicks intended
only to attract millions of dollars in charity donations to Christian
missionaries after the ‘playing the victim’ soap opera. Nobody expected America
to swallow it hook, line and sinker but that is exactly what America has done.
“MURIC salutes Nigerian Muslims for their resilience. We advise against reprisal
killings or the burning of churches anywhere in the country. Muslims are better
when they practice the true teachings of Islam. The Glorious Qur’an says, “Goodness
and evil are not equal. Therefore pay evil with goodness and see how enemies
become close friends (Qur’an 41:34).”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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