MURIC HAILS REMAND OF OSUN MURDER SUSPECTS

 

15^th September, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS REMAND OF OSUN MURDER SUSPECTS    

 

The custodian of the Esuleke masquerade, Chief Kayode Esuleke, his son, Ifashola and two other persons, Kola Adeosun and Hakeem Idowu, were remanded by an Osun High Court in Osogbo yesterday, Tuesday, 14^th September, 2021. The suspects are accused of involvement in the murder of Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen.

 

 

Meanwhile, an Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has hailed the decision of Justice Ayo Oyebiyi of the High Court of Osogbo to remand the suspects till 21^st September 2021 for hearing of their application for bail.

 

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 15^th September, 2021, the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the judge’s decision as consistent with the principles of justice, the rule of law and equality before the law.

 

 

The statement reads :

 

“We are pleased with the decision of the High Court of Oshogbo which remanded the custodian of the Esuleke masquerade, Chief Kayode Esuleke, his son, Ifashola and two other persons, Kola Adeosun and Hakeem Idowu. It was a decision in the right direction. It is the dawn of a new beginning in justice, fairness and equity.

 

 

“An innocent man, Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen, was shot dead by traditionalists. Many other Muslims, including minors, sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack. The Muslims were holding a programme in front of their mosque at the Qomarul Islam Society of Nigeria Central Mosque at Oluode Aranyin, Osogbo on Sunday, 27^th June, 2021 when the traditionalists attacked them. The attackers also vandalised the mosque.

 

 

“Chief Kayode Esuleke who is the custodian of the Esuleke masquerade has since been walking the streets freely from June to September 2021 to the chagrin of Muslims in the town. Such temerity has infuriated Muslims in Osun State but Muslim leaders prevailed on their followers to remain calm and law abiding. We have no scintilla of doubt that the judge’s decision to remand the suspects will douse tension.

 

 

“MURIC appeals to Muslims in the state and elsewhere around the country to continue to display maturity, patience and respect for constituted authority and the rule of law. On no occasion must they allow themselves to be goaded to anger or violent action. They must allow the law to take its full course.

 

 

“In the meantime we assure the Muslim community of Osun State that MURIC will not relent in its efforts to ensure that justice prevails in this case. We will continue to monitor developments until justice is not only done but is seen to have been done. Murder is not a bailable offence and Esuleke and his fellow travellers are not above the law. We urge Muslims to remain vigilant. Vigilance is the price of freedom” #Onjusticewestand

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

TRAVEL ADVISORY AROUND JOS AXIS - MURIC

 

13^th September, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

TRAVEL ADVISORY AROUND JOS AXIS - MURIC  

 

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised Nigerians travelling from the North to the South or vice versa to be security conscious and to avoid going through the city of Jos. The group laments the loss of innocent lives as a result of roadblocks set up by the local militia.

 

 

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, 13^th September, 2021, the group’s director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola, advised travelers to use the Saminaka bypass straight to Bauchi when going up North and vice versa when coming down South.  

 

The statement reads in full :

 

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), conscious of the sacredness of life among other Allah-given fundamental human rights of every human being, decry the constant waste of life arising from the brutal killing of travellers by wild local militiamen. These militiamen often block the road at the slightest opportunity to waylay travellers. Hundreds of travellers, particularly Muslims, have been mercilessly slaughtered in Jos zone of death.

 

 

“Although we have advised the Federal Government (FG) to create a new bypass that will enable travellers to avoid going inside Jos, it is our belief that this carnage can still be avoided before FG takes action on our advice.

 

 

“We find it mandatory to issue a travel advisory to all and sundry. The Saminaka bypass can be used as a short term measure. There is a bypass through Saminaka town straight to Bauchi.

 

 

“For example, the safest route for those travelling from the South to the North is, from Kaduna, head towards Pambegua and go through Saminaka to Gumau. From Gumau, one can take the road leading to Bauchi and Gombe. From Gombe, go straight to Yola or Maiduguri.

 

 

“Another alternative is to head towards Keffi from Abuja. From Keffi, go towards Gitata and link Saminaka from there. From Saminaka, repeat the same route to Gumau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Maiduguri.

 

 

“Those travelling to Lagos or Port Harcourt from Maiduguri, Yola or Damaturu are advised to veer off to Gumau town after Bauchi. Gumau is forty (40) kilometres from Jos. From Gumau, go to Saminaka, then straight to Gitata, Keffi and to Abuja. From Abuja, continue to Lokoja after which you go towards Owo by the right or to Auchi/Benin by the left or even to Enugu and Port Harcourt by the same left.

 

 

“The safety of lives and properties is MURIC’s priority. It is rather unfortunate that despite the efforts being made by the security agencies, the Muslim-hating militia groups in the Middle Belt, particularly in the Plateau region, have decided to turn the area to a death zone and a killing ground.

 

 

“Whereas right to life is guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Plateau militiamen kill travelers with impunity. Also, despite the fact that Section 41 of the same Constitution which is the font et origo of all laws in this country, guarantees freedom of movement. Yet Jos militiamen block the roads with reckless abandon and infringe on travellers’ right to move freely within the country.

 

 

“We have issued this travel advisory out of our deep concern for life and the freedom of every homo sapien compos mentis. Every Nigerian, nay, every homo sapien within our boarders must be allowed to move freely without let or hinderance. The faith of the traveler does not matter to us. Our concern is humanity. Every man or woman, Christian or Muslim, has the right to live and to move around the country.

 

 

“To conclude this advisory, we call on FG to provide adequate security around the Saminaka bypass which we have advised travelers to start using. On the long run, FG should set the machinery in motion for the construction of a major bypass in Jos zone as well as expedite action on the construction of a standard rail gauge around the country.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC JOINS FALANA IN SEEKING PARDON FOR 54 SOLDIERS

 

9^th September, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC JOINS FALANA IN SEEKING PARDON FOR 54 SOLDIERS 

 

Sequel to a letter written by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), to President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking presidential pardon for soldiers jailed for refusing to fight Boko Haram, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added its voice to the call for pardon for the soldiers.      

 

 

MURIC’s call was made on Thursday, 9^th September, 2021 through its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

MURIC said, “We endorse every sentence in the letter written by foremost human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), asking President Muhammadu Buhari to pardon soldiers jailed for refusing to fight Boko Haram with poor weapons. This case has unassailable merit and Mr. Falana’s letter has addressed all the necessary issues.

 

 

“We strongly believe that the punishment meted out to the soldiers were a miscarriage of justice. We also frown at the way the soldiers were discharged from prison after serving their term without any concern for their welfare. It is an invitation to anarchy. These are soldiers trained as members of the special forces. They were not ordinary soldiers. Releasing them into the society was therefore a most dangerous move. They may fall into wrong hands.

 

 

“However, we appeal to the released men to continue to be of good conduct, to remain law abiding and to always remember that Allah has a reason for everything. While they were in jail, many soldiers died fighting the insurgents. Some lost their limbs. But Allah has preserved them. It is also worthy of gratitude to Allah that none of them died in jail.

 

 

“Therefore our message to the 54 soldiers is this, ‘Have faith and thank God. It is possible that the Supreme Creator, in His divine wisdom, decided to keep you in jail in order to keep you alive or to keep you away from a worse fate.’ Afterall Prophet Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him) was imprisoned for no just cause and he came out victorious (Glorious Qur’an 12:35; Genesis 39:20).

 

 

“The Muslims among them should remember what Allah said in the Hadith Qudsy, ‘Whoever is not pleased with what I have decided, let him get out from under my sky. Let him look for another sky other than mine. Whoever is not pleased with what I impose on him, let him leave my earth. Let him seek another earth other than mine.’

 

 

“But is there any other sky apart from the one above our heads? Is there any other earth where homo sapiens can live other than the one created by Allah? Where can we go if we decide that we will no longer live under Allah’s sky or on His earth? Has any of the super powers succeeded in producing its own sky or its separate earth? Nay, there is no other sky and no other earth apart from what the Supreme Creator has made. This is why we should always accept our fate.

 

 

“Christians among the jailed soldiers should reflect on the words of Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, ‘Let us thank God in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18).

 

 

“We therefore beseech these men to accept the fate that the Supreme Creator allowed to befall them. They should not seek vengeance from society by hurting innocent people. They should not use their special training negatively. Vengeance is a square peg. Justice is a round hole. What you seek to get is not what you obtain in the long run.

 

 

“MURIC commends leading human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, for his role in the struggle to get justice for the jailed soldiers. He has consistently defended the oppressed, sometimes pro bono. Once again, Falana has put humanity on the driving seat in the practice of his profession. We have no scinttila of doubt that posterity will write his name in letters of gold.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

FIND KILLERS OF SOWORE’S BROTHER : MURIC TELLS POLICE

 

4^th September, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

FIND KILLERS OF SOWORE’S BROTHER : MURIC TELLS POLICE 

                                   

Edo Police Command on Saturday, 4^th September, 2021 confirmed that suspected kidnappers killed Felix Olajide Sowore, a younger brother of the convener of Revolution Now and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore. Police also confirmed that five other persons were kidnapped during the attack. The victim, Felix, was a phamarcy student at Igbinedion University.

 

 

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights advocacy group has strongly condemned the killing. In a message circulated to the media on Saturday, 4^th September, 2021, the group told the Edo Police Command to find the killers of Sowore’s brother. MURIC’s statement was signed by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The message reads:

 

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby strongly condemn the killing of Felix Olajide Sowore. What is the crime of this student? Why must our young brains be wasted in this manner? This is one killing too many. We call on the Edo Police Command to find his killers without delay.

 

 

“This kind of tragedy should not be happening around this time. We are not unaware of the travails of the victim’s senior brother in the hands of security agencies. It saddens our hearts to learn of this heart-breaking calamity around this time. The police must therefore go all out for Felix’s assailants.

 

 

“This killing must be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians. It is a heinous crime. It is wicked, heartless and inexplicable. The killers can run but they cannot hide. The long arms of the law must catch them.

 

 

“Our hearts bleed for the Sowore family at this time. We pray that Almighty God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss. We console the indefatigable activist, Omoyele Sowore. We salute his doggedness and ask him to take heart. It is not over until it is over. May the killers of Felix never find peace.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

GIVE US A BYPASS IN JOS ZONE OF DEATH – MURIC

 

2^nd September, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

GIVE US A BYPASS IN JOS ZONE OF DEATH – MURIC 

                                   

An Islamic human rights outfit, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to create a bypass around the city of Jos in such a way that travellers coming from the North to the South will not have to go through Jos township. This, according to the group, will minimise the killing of travellers at roadblocks within the city of Jos.

 

 

MURIC made this appeal on Thursday, 2^nd September, 2021 through its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

According to MURIC, “It is no longer news that Jos has for a long time been a killing ground and a death zone that has defied all solutions. Most importantly, it has proved a most dangerous zone for Muslim travellers in particular as well as other innocent members of the public who pass through the city on their ways up North or down South.

 

                      

“Hundreds of Muslims have been declared missing around the area. However, the discovery of ponds containing missing vehicles and several abandoned wells in recent times has increased the suspicion that victims’ vehicles are usually pushed inside the ponds while their bodies were dumped inside the abandoned wells.

 

 

“A case in reference is the discovery of the car of Major General Idris Alkali (rtd) who went missing on 3^rd September 2018 while travelling from Abuja to Bauchi via Jos. His vehicle was later found inside a pond in Dura-Du in Jos South on 29^th September 2018 after draining the water in the pond. His body was found more than one month later in an open well in Guchwet village of Shen district in Jos South Local Government Area.

 

 

“Based on this incident and the fact that many other vehicles were also found inside the pond, including an 18-seater bus, MURIC considers Jos area too dangerous for travelers who are just passing through.

 

 

“We therefore charge the Fedeferal Government (FG) to create a bypass for vehicles going from the North to the South and vice versa. Such a bypass will enable travelers who do not intend to enter Jos city to avoid the area. This is a very urgent matter.

 

 

“Meanwhile a 24-hour tight security should be provided on the main road used by travelers inside the city pending the commencement and completion of work on the proposed bypass. It should be noted that this proposal will address one of the areas and causes of insecurity in Nigeria if it is promptly addressed.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)