CHANGE NAMES OF SCHOOLS TAKEN OVER BY GOVERNMENT – MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎26^th January, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

CHANGE NAMES OF SCHOOLS TAKEN OVER BY GOVERNMENT – MURIC

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‎An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has opined that the names of schools taken over by the government should be changed to names that reflect public ownership.

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‎In a statement issued on Monday, 26th January, 2026, the group contended that such a change would reduce, if it does not totally eliminate, the influence and entitlement posturing of religious organisations. The press release was signed by MURIC's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

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‎It reads further:

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‎"Baptist Primary School, Idikan, Ibadan in Oyo State was demolished by the Baptist Mission late in December 2026 (https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/31/residents-protest-demolition-of-primary-school-in-ibadan/).

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‎"Although the action generated a huge controversy and parents held demonstrations, the Baptist group stuck to its gun. They insisted that the school belonged to them originally before it was taken over by government in 1975.

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‎"MURIC sees the need to find a lasting solution to the recurrent controversy on school ownership, influence and ultimate control. The status quo is not immune from religious crisis as former owners continue to claim ownership and wield immense influence. It is our considered opinion that this is not the way to take over schools effectively.

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‎"A permanent solution will come when the names of schools taken over by the government are changed to names that reflect public ownership. Such a change would reduce, if it does not totally eliminate, the influence and entitlement posturing of religious organisations. It will also douse tension in religious circles as well as debilitate the capacity for religious persecution in the education sector.

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‎"We therefore urge various state governments who are still running and funding schools taken over long ago but which are still bearing nomenclatures of their former owners to summon the political will to take the final step that will ensure total takeover.

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‎"It is the only logical line of action if the Idikan episode is to be avoided in future. Afterall those former school owners were all fully compensated and the schools are now being funded by government while renovations and additional infrastructural facilities have been added after the takeover. Former owners who still lay claim to such schools have eaten their cakes. They cannot have it. It amounts to fraud for religious groups to continue to lay claim to such schools."

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‎‎#1975SchoolsTakeover

‎#ChangeNamesOfMissionSchools

 

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

‎ WHO WITHDREW SOLDIERS FROM MAGA SCHOOL? – MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎24^th January, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎ WHO WITHDREW SOLDIERS FROM MAGA SCHOOL? – MURIC

‎A faith-based civil society organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has raised concern about the identity of the person or persons behind the withdrawal of soldiers from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area where 25 female students were kidnapped by bandits on Monday, 17^th November 2025.

In a statement issued on Saturday, 24^th January, 2026 by its Executive Director, the group said Nigerians want to know why the Defence Headquaters (DHQ) is yet to make its findings into the mysterious withdrawal public.

MURIC also added:

“The unfortunate incident involving the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area continues to trouble the minds of Nigerians. In particular, Nigerians are miffed by the manner the abduction was carried out (https://www.channelstv.com/2025/11/17/bandits-abduct-schoolgirls-kill-vice-principal-in-deadly-attack-on-kebbi-school/).

“According to the state governor, Nasir Idris, ‘We received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting…The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school…The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3 am, and by 3:45 am, the incident happened (https://www.thecable.ng/military-withdrew-from-kebbi-school-before-abduction-of-students-governor-alleges/).

“MURIC can feel the agony in the state governor’s narration. He had done the needful after receiving an intelligence report about an impending attack on the school. Those in charge of intelligence gathering had also done their duty. Ditto with those who should deploy soldiers to the spot. But somebody somewhere issued a counter-command for withdrawal of soldiers guarding the school.

“Who could it have been? A fifth columnist within the army? A signals expert among the leadership of the terrorists who succeeded in decoding the military’s signals and subsequently sent a deceitful message to those on guard?

“By the way, what kind of change of guards ever occur at 3 am? Again, if soldiers are to withdraw from guard duty, is it not strange that the departing guards did not wait to see other soldiers who would take over from them before leaving? Even ordinary neighbourhood guards know this simple security protocol.  

“While it is gratifying that the soldiers were interrogated by Defence Headquarters (DHQ) according to a report (vanguardngr.com/2025/11/dhq-quizzes-soldiers-who-abandoned-kebbi-schoolgirls-before-terrorists-struck/), the guards who left the school at that auspicious time of the dawn should still be behind bars facing interrogation. Does guard duty end by 3 am? Who does that?

“While their interrogation may be reassuring, the fact that even DHQ has not come up with its findings two months after the ugly incident may be unnerving (https://www.channelstv.com/2025/11/23/military-reviewing-alleged-withdrawal-of-troops-before-kebbi-school-attack-dhq/).

 

“Although Senate also mandated its joint committee on security to investigate the sudden withdrawal of military personnel from the school shortly before the bandits’ invasion, Nigerians have not been briefed about the outcome of the investigation.

“It is quite disconcerting that the two week ultimatum which Senate gave its security committee has since elapsed without any findings being released to the public (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/kidnapping-senate-probes-sudden-withdrawal-of-military-personnel-from-kebbi-school/).

“Nigerians want to know why both DHQ and the Nigerian Senate are yet to make their findings into the mysterious withdrawal public. Nigerians demand transparency in this matter. Heads must roll on this reckless abandonment. Nigeria’s problem of insecurity, particularly terrorism and banditry, will not end until we start holding those guilty of either sabotage or dereliction of duty accountable. That must start now.

“We are aware that Nigerians are afflicted with many social diseases like kleptomania, a culture of waste, impunity, mass amnesia, etc. But the most common among them is the latter, viz, mass amnesia. We tend to be addicted to momentary excitement and hysteria but only for that moment as other events soon envelope our medullar oblongata in this action-filled theater of the absurd. But MURIC is determined to jog our memories from time to time. This ‘cup’ will not pass so soon, nor so easily.

‎‎#MagaSchoolAbduction

‎#SoldiersLeftGuardDuty

#NigerianArmy

#NigerianSenate

#WhoOrderedWithdrawal

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

‎ WHY ARE DISENGAGED NEPA STAFF STILL UNPAID SINCE 2013? - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎14^th January, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎ WHY ARE DISENGAGED NEPA STAFF STILL UNPAID SINCE 2013? - MURIC

‎47,000 former staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) whose benefits have not been paid since 2013 have taken their case to the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for intervention.

‎‎According to the Executive Director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola who addressed the issue on Wednesday, 14th January, 2026, the 47,000 ex-staff of PHCN are direct victims of Nigeria's poor reward system. He appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to intervene.

‎‎His full statement reads:

‎‎"47,000 former staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) whose benefits have not been paid since 2013 have brought their case to our headquarters for intervention.

“Writing under the aegis of the United Ex-PHCN Staff Forum 2025, the PHCN ex-staff lamented how they were owed 16 months salary arrears before being disengaged. They recalled several meetings held with relevant authorities and  agreements reached with all relevant parties.

“According to them, the Federal Government set up a committee on the matter in 2011 to address labour issues arising from the privatization exercise. The committee was chaired by Comrade Hassan Sunmonu but its report was not implemented. Instead, a new agreement titled ‘Agreement in Respect of Labour Issues Affecting Staff of PHCN’ was signed on 11th December, 2012.

“The new agreement was signed by the Secretary to the Federal Government with representatives from the Ministries of Labour and Power, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and key union leaders including Joe Ajaero and Dede Okpara.

“Among the items listed in this agreement were eight key items. These included payment of exit benefits, gratuity, death  benefits, settlement of 16 months’ salary arrears, post-retirement training, 10% equity share, and the resolution of non-care assets in power stations. Despite the agreement, the benefits remain unpaid to date.

“More circulars were issued, one was signed by Joe Ajaero and another by the Director General of BPE on 24th October, 2017 (Ref: BPE/EP/UMUN/002/17) reaffirming these commitments. Yet, BPE reneged on these agreements, redirecting them to the unions.

“MURIC condemns the attitude of Nigerian authorities who breach agreements solemnly reached with workers. It leads to lack of public trust in government enterprises. It also smirks of lack of the fear of Allah. These officials are either Muslims or Christians but their faith do not reflect in their attitudes.

“Economic justice is one of the cardinal teachings of Islam. The Glorious Qur’an commands prompt and adequate payment of workers. It warns that workers’ dues and benefits ‘should not be withheld from them...’ (Quran 11:85). The Qur’an also lays emphasis on the need to fulfil obligations (Qur’an 17:34 and 23:8).

“In the hadith, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advocated prompt payment of workers (Ibn Majah) when he said ‘Pay the worker his wages before his sweat dries.’ Yet here are 47,000 ex-staff of PHCN who toiled day and night for the company. They were owed 16 months’ arrears (which means their sweats had dried on their faces already). How can Allah be pleased with those in charge?

“This is the plight of Nigerian workers. They are overworked, overtaxed but underpaid. Sometimes they are not even paid at all. This is the evil in capitalism. It is a fake drug administered by phoney doctors. It also exposes the Archile’s heel of democracy, weak, compromising, loose at all ends.

“Deuteronomy 24:14-15 commands paying labourers daily before sunset because they are poor and they need it. In James 5:4 the Bible says the cries of exploited workers reach God. It says inter alia, ‘Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.’ According to Romans 4:4 and 1 Timothy 5:18, a worker's wage is an obligation, not a gift.

“Since their disengagement, the 47,000 ex-staff of PHCN have dwindled in number. Some had stroke. Others suffered the trauma of watching their loved ones in the pangs of pain with no money to take them to the hospital. Many of their children dropped out of school. We have no doubt that their cries have gone to God.

“MURIC jogs the collective conscience of those who inflict pain on the poor, those who milk the masses dry and still go to the mosque or church. Allah is waiting. You may think it is far but Allah says it is near (Qur’an 70:6-7).

“We in MURIC will continue to stand by the hoi polloi, the oppressed people of Nigeria. We will give voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless. We will sow eschatological fears in the hearts of economic extortionists, those who inherit the assets but deny the liabilities.

“Before we stop hitting the keyboard, we appeal to the Federal Government to quickly intervene. The calamities facing this country may not be unconnected with the horrible sins the wealthy and powerful commit against the poor. Perchance we will receive a listening ear and the Merciful and Beneficient will lift the cordon off the land.”

‎‎#PHCN

‎#Pay47000ExStaff

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

 

PAY 54 SOLDIERS AFTER PARDON, RETIREMENT - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎13^th January, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎PAY 54 SOLDIERS AFTER PARDON, RETIREMENT - MURIC

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‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Nigerian Army authorities to release the gratuities of the famous 54 soldiers whose cases came to limelight about 12 years ago.

‎‎MURIC's appeal was made public in a statement issued on Tuesday, 13^th January, 2026.

‎‎It reads:

‎‎"We wish to bring the case of the 54 soldiers to the attention of the Nigerian Army authorities, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) and the Nigerian public for both compassionate consideration and due diligence. 

‎‎"The 54 soldiers were those tried by the military for demanding better weapons to face Book Haram. They were first sentenced to death but their death sentence was later commuted to ten years imprisonment. They were later granted presidential pardon in 2022 and discharged.

‎‎"Although their discharge date reads 2014, the 54 soldiers are contesting this date. According to them, their discharge date should read 2025 since they were in detention until they were pardoned in 2022 and discharged in 2025. The 54 soldiers are also eager to receive their entitlements. They also claim that the Army has already paid a general who was pardoned along with them.

“The case of the 54 soldiers first caught our attention when they were first sentenced to death. We are not in any way related to them but we took up their case based on humanitarian considerations and, being a human rights organization, we regarded it as part of our corporate responsibilities.

‎‎"MURIC appeals to the Nigerian army authorities to pay the entitlements of the 54 soldiers on compassionate ground. These are able bodied men with family responsibilities."

‎‎#NigerianArmy

‎#54Soldiers

‎#Pay54SoldiersEntitlements

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‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC KNOCKS KEBBI STATE GOVT FOR BORROWING TO SPONSOR HAJJ

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎

‎12^th January, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎MURIC KNOCKS KEBBI STATE GOVT FOR BORROWING TO SPONSOR HAJJ

‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticised the Kebbi State government for approving a N10 billion loan to secure additional 1,300 Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage.

‎‎In a statement signed by the Executive Director the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 12th January, 2026, MURIC advised the state government to rearrange its priorities by focusing attention on education, health, roads, poverty alleviation and the provision of jobs for Kebbi youths instead of competing with other states in the number of pilgrims.

‎‎According to the statement:

‎‎"The Kebbi State government, under Governor Nasir Idris, has approved a N10 billion loan to secure 1,300 additional Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage (https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/09/kebbi-n10bn-hajj-loan-sparks-outrage-amid-alarming-literacy-crisis/).

‎‎"We see this as gross misplacement of priorities. Islam does not compel all Muslims to go on Hajj. It is only compulsory for Muslims who have the wherewithal (Glorious Qur'an 3;97). We are also not compelled to borrow in order to fulfil this obligation. It is conditional.

‎‎"N10 billion can build 40 kilometers of roads in Kebbi. There are no swamps there. A mid-sized general hospital typically costs between ₦250 million and ₦1.5 billion for the structure. Governor Idris could have given the people of Kebbi at least five general hospitals with that amount. 

‎‎"If it is true that Kebbi planned to rehabilitate seven hospitals with N4 billion in December 2025 (https://www.icirnigeria.org/kebbi-to-rehabilitate-seven-hospitals-with-n4-billion/?tztc=1), how can we explain borrowing a humongous amount of N10 billion to sponsor people on hajj? Who is going to repay that loan?

‎‎"Again, if Kebbi government set aside N8.9 billion to construct 120 schools in December 2023  (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/kebbi-votes-n8-9bn-to-construct-120-schools/?) how can we explain borrowing N10 billion to sponsor hajj?‎

‎"Kebbi must rearrange its priorities. Education, health, roads, security, etc, should be top among the priorities. They are capable of transforming society and making life more meaningful, most abundant. We therefore advise the state government to rearrange its priorities by focusing attention on education, health, roads, poverty alleviation and the provision of jobs for Kebbi youths instead of competing with other states in the number of pilgrims.

‎‎"Once again, we reiterate our call on both federal and state governments to leave the operation of hajj to the Muslims and their Islamic organizations. The Federal Government only needs to handle protocol matters. It should stop sponsoring hajj."

‎‎#Kebbi

‎#NoToBorrowingForHajj

‎#MisplacedPriorities

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). 

 

WE DEMAND JUSTICE IN DSS OFFICER'S RAPE CASE - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

10^th January, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎WE DEMAND JUSTICE IN DSS OFFICER'S RAPE CASE - MURIC

‎‎An officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, has been detained for abduction, defilement, and forceful conversion of a Muslim girl. Walida Abdulhadi, at the age of 16, to Christianity.

‎‎Meanwhile a faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has demanded justice for Walida and her parents as well as prosecution of the officer.

‎‎In a statement issued on Saturday, 10^th January, 2026, the group commended the DSS for taking prompt action but warned that the case should not be swept under the carpet. The statement was issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎‎According to MURIC:

‎‎"An officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, has been detained for abduction, defilement, and forceful conversion of a Muslim girl. Walida Abdulhadi, at the age of 16. (https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/dss-detains-officer-for-rape-forced-conversion-of-muslim-girl/%3famp).

‎‎"This is atrocious, egregious and preposterous. It is terrorism in uniform. The suspect does not deserve to wear the uniform of an ordinary uniformed voluntary organisation, talk less of the uniform of the highly respected and prestigious DSS. This man should be out away for a long, long time.

‎‎"We commend the DSS for taking prompt action. Nonetheless, we warn that the case should not be swept under the carpet."

‎‎Continuing, MURIC said, "We will not rest until justice is not only done but seen to have been done. Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi is a bad egg, a bad example. We know that the DSS is a highly disciplined security agency. They are generally made up of decent men and women but Ifeanyi is the black sheep among them. DSS must make him a scape goat."

‎‎Ifeanyi's arrest and subsequent detention was sequel to a petition dated January 4, written by an Abuja-based law firm, Gamji Lawchain. 

‎‎#JusticeForWalida

‎‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

DANGOTE REFINERY DESERVES ACCOLADES FOR FUEL CRISIS-FREE YULETIDE - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎9^th January, 2026

‎‎ PRESS RELEASE:

‎DANGOTE REFINERY DESERVES  ACCOLADES FOR FUEL CRISIS-FREE YULETIDE - MURIC

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that Dangote Refinery deserves accolades for enabling Nigerians to enjoy a fuel crisis-free Yuletide.

‎‎The observation was made in a press statement issued on Friday, 9th January, 2026 by the Executive Director of the human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.‎

‎The full statement reads:‎

"Nigerians heaved sighs of relief during the past two weeks from the 2025 Christmas period through the first week of the New year 2026 as the period flew past without a single sign of fuel crisis.‎

‎"Christmas was celebrated with pomp and pageantry. People travelled to their various destinations around the country without nursing any fear of non-availability of fuel.  Fuel stations sold their various products seamlessly throughout the season and car owners experienced no glitches. ‎

‎"Looking back, we can see long queues in the days of yore. We slept at the petrol stations for days. We bought black market fuel at more than triple its normal price. We endangered lives by storing fuel in car boots and home stores. Some trips were called off for lack of fuel. Meanwhile transport fares skyrocketed while the prices of foodstuffs hit the ceilings over fuel scarcity in those days.

“Thank God it is all over. May we never experience that horrendous spectacle again.‎ This is why Dangote Refinery deserves our accolades. The difference is clear. But we should ponder about continuity. ‎

“Apart from pouring encomiums on the refinery and the brain behind it, government should give the refinery enduring oxygen in terms of protection and creating an enabling business environment for it.”

‎#DangoteRefinery

‎#FuelCrisisFreeYuletide

‎#AccoladesForDangote

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).