25^th August, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC PETITIONS IG OVER INCITEMENT OF YORUBAS AGAINST DIRECTOR, TO SUE ALAROYE MAGAZINE 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)  has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the incitement of the Yoruba people against the director of the organization as well as the group by Alaroye, a weekly Yoruba magazine. MURIC alleged that the magazine portrayed it’s director as a traitor among the Yoruba working for Fulani marauders. MURIC also demanded apology from the magazine to avoid litigation.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the chairman of MURIC in Kwara State, Barrister Taofeeq Jaji, on Thursday, 25^th August, 2022.

The statement reads:

“Following the publication of inciting statements by Alaroye magazine two weeks ago, the State Chairmen Forum of MURIC (SCF) held an emergency zoom meeting on Saturday, 14^th August, 2022. The SCF resolved to send a petition to the Inspector General of the Police and to also demand unreserved apology from Alaroye magazine failing which the publisher will be sued in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“In compliance with the above resolution, a petition addressed to the IG was submitted at the Abuja office of the IG on Wednesday, 17^th August, 2022. The petition was officially acknowledged and stamped ‘received’. In addition, a letter demanding apology was sent by DHL courier to the office of Alaroye magazine. Our tracking of the parcel on DHL website showed it was delivered on Thursday, 18^th August, 2022.

“Unless there are consequences for character assassination, blatant lies and incitement of members of the public through reckless, lawless and irresponsible journalism, there will be no sanity in the public space. 800,000 lives were lost in the space of one hundred days in the Rwanda war which occurred between April and July 1994.

“Interestingly, the press had the lion share of the blame for ignition tension before the crisis. There must be checks and balances in a sector like the press that is so powerful particularly when it tends to become another Frankenstein monster. We must use every legitimate tool available to check recklessness in the media.

“MURIC appeals to the IG to expedite action on its petition as it concerns matters of likely breach of public peace and threat to the life of our director. We have no doubt that the Nigeria Police will greatly assist peace efforts in the country if it ensures the safety of our director.

Barrister Taofeeq Jaji,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Kwara State Chapter.