ALLEGATION OF INVITING BANDITS TO SOUTH WEST: MUSLIM HATERS HAVE COME AGAIN - MURIC

 

^{MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)}

^{‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين}

^{‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence}

^{‎‎31st May, 2026}

^{‎‎PRESS RELEASE:}

^{ALLEGATION OF INVITING BANDITS TO SOUTH WEST: MUSLIM HATERS HAVE COME AGAIN - MURIC}

^{‎‎A civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused some Yoruba Christian elements of orchestrating a hate-campaign against innocent Yoruba Muslims and Muslim groups, particularly MURIC by accusing them of inviting Boko Haram terrorists and bandits into the region.}

^{Meanwhile, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola has issued a rejoinder in which he traced the allegation to ‘Muslim haters’. The rejoinder was issued on Sunday, 31st May, 2026.}

^{He said:}

^{“We are in possession of a satanic tweet in which the author alleged that MURIC had radicalized Islamic clerics in the South West and those clerics are inviting terrorists to the region.‎}

^{‎"Nothing can be farther from the truth. The real truth is that Yoruba Muslims have been victims of religious persecution for decades. Their Christian neighbours who are behind the persecution are hell bent on maintaining the status quo. They therefore resist every attempt to liberate Muslims in Yorubaland.}

^{‎‎"Any individual or group who sets out with the agenda to emancipate Muslims in Yorubaland is tagged a radical, a fundamentalist or an extremist. This is the case of MURIC and this is why Muslim haters always concoct lies against the group. This also explains why MURIC's name is now on the lips of these agent provocateur.}

^{‎‎"It is just too illogical. How can MURIC or any Yoruba Muslim group invite Boko Haram or bandits to Yorubaland when we all know that those criminals do not differentiate on the basis of religion. They kill more Muslims than Christians. They attack mosques and churches.} 

^{‎‎"By the way, Boko Haram, bandits and other terrorists are even bound to hate MURIC because our way of life and our modus operandi differ from their ways.  We detest violence. We oppose killings, kidnappings, etc. Our motto: 'Dialogue, Not Violence', stands us out. We are led by intellectuals, not hoodlums. Many of our state chairmen are university professors and holders of doctorate degrees. We are knowledge driven. Our detractors missed this.}

^{‎‎"Besides, MURIC is known to have issued several statements in the past condemning terrorist groups. We have never hidden our distaste and allergy for terrorism. We have the pedigree. Anyone who googles 'MURIC condemns terrorism' or 'MURIC condemns Boko Haram' will confirm our claim.}

^{‎‎"Exempli gratia, very early in 2014, when Boko Haram just started, we condemned the group’s doctrine, describing it as ‘despicable’ (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/160342-nigerian-islamic-group-condemns-boko-harams-doctrine-despicable.html?tztc=1).}

^{“Also in July 2014, MURIC condemned Boko Haram’s attack on a church in Chibok, Borno State (https://thenationonlineng.net/attack-on-churches-contradicts-ramadan-spirit-says-muric/).}

^{‎‎"We condemned Boko Haram's attack on Ondo church in 2022 (https://saharareporters.com/2022/06/05/ondo-church-attack-proof-boko-haram-terrorists-are-now-south-west-nigeria%E2%80%94islamic-group).}

^{‎‎"We called for a united front when terrorists attacked a train in 2022 (https://thenationonlineng.net/train-attack-muric-urges-unity-against-terrorists/amp/).}

^{‎‎"In 2015, we warned Muslim youths to avoid terrorist groups (https://www.africanexaminer.com/world-insurgency-muric-discourages-youths-to-avoid-terrorist-groups/).}

^{‎‎"Also in 2022, we condemned terrorist attacks in Zamfara State (https://www.suprememagazine.news/amp/defencesecurity/muric-condemns-killings-in-zamfara-112679).}

^{“We applauded the DSS and the NSA when terrorist leaders were captured last year 2025 (https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2025/08/17/muric-applauds-dss-nsa-after-capture-of-top-terror-leaders/).}

^{‎‎"Whoever is not satisfied with our explanation and the plethora of proofs given above is certainly suffering from Islamophobia. Those proofs were not provided because we are afraid of anyone. They were provided because they were there. They were real. We did not conjure them. Internet will not allow manipulation. It has an indestructible medulla oblongata.}

^{‎‎"Muslim haters have been threatening us for years and we have remained undaunted. Nobody can scare the MURIC leadership or its members. We are bona fide Nigerians, law abiding and peace-loving Muslims. Nobody can intimidate us. We know our rights.}

^{‎‎"Those proofs were provided because of the need to prove to posterity and the rest of the world that MURIC and Yoruba Muslim groups have nothing to do with terrorists. None of us can ever invite bandits or Boko Haram into Yorubaland.}

^{‎‎The problem with the extremist and fanatical Christians of the South West is that they want to take over completely. They do not want to see any vestiges of Islam in Yorubaland. They hate MURIC in particular because they find us standing between them and the poor Yoruba Muslims whose rights they have been violating.}

^{‎‎"Their sole objective now is to totally diminish MURIC's influence by any means possible, including through physical elimination, detention or imprisonment but Allah has made it impossible for them.}

^{‎‎"We are not fabricating this. At least one of their members expressed an open desire that the leader of MURIC should disappear on the streets of Lagos (https://www.nairaland.com/5097287/waec-official-threatens-muric-director/1). That was in March 2019.}

^{‎‎"Also in August 2020, a Yoruba Christian fanatic was sponsored to claim that the MURIC leader received the sum of 200,000 dollars from Boko Haram (https://theeagleonline.com.ng/nigerian-islamic-rights-group-muric-accused-of-receiving-200000-from-boko-haram-affiliate/). The allegation crumbled for lack of credibility.}

^{‎‎"This new allegation of inviting bandits to Yorubaland is another futile attempt to dent our image but it has also failed.  Nigerians are not fools. They know our methodology. Neither are Nigerian security agencies easy to distract. They know a dummy when they see one.}

^{‎"MURIC appeals to all Yoruba homo sapiens compos mentis to come together in the fight against bandits and Boko Haram. Just like the leader of MURIC said last week (23rd May, 2026) in a newspaper interview, ‘They (the terrorists and the bandits) intend to scare us stiff (in Yorubaland); to spread mayhem and to embarrass Yoruba leaders and South-West governments. But they will fail by the grace of Allah. The South-West must come together and act like one body.}

^{“He (the MURIC leader) also added, ‘We must fight like the real men that we are. Our forefathers took on spears and arrows with their chests, never with their backs. We will not run from these hoodlums. We will fight side by side with the law enforcement agents. We will outnumber the bandits and outgun them. After all, they are not spirits…From now on, no Yoruba man must sleep without a cudgel under his pillow… It is better to die with honour than live in bondage and shame in the kidnapper’s den (https://newtelegraphng.com/kidnappings-killings-in-south-west-must-stop-now-alaafin-gani-adams-akintola-afenifere/).}

^{“Instead of uniting all Yorubas to fight side by side against Boko Haram and bandits, some Yoruba Christians (not all) want to isolate and scapegoat Yoruba Muslims, particularly MURIC. We know that a dog is given a bad name when they want to kill it. But they will fail.}

^{“MURIC invites all Yoruba citizens to unite to fight bandits. A divided house can never stand. United we stand, divided we fall. Nobody should politicize banditry. This is not about religion. We will never run away. We must fight for our land, our freedom, our children, our wives and our mothers.}

^{“But nobody can fight it alone. Even the police and the army are soliciting for the support of the citizens. The Yoruba must not run from bandits. They are criminals and we will speak to them in the only language they understand. We will stop them.}

^{“We therefore charge Yoruba youths (Muslims and Christians) to join resistance vigilante groups like Oduduwa Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Amotekun, Iru Ekun, etc. Bandit war is here. Boko Haram war is also here. We will not flee from Boko Haram. We will do this together.}

^{“Our forefathers were gallant in the Battle of Ogele (1825), valiant in Mugbamugba War (1824-1825), uncompromising in Eleduwe War (1830), and roaring lions in the decisive Battle of Osogbo (1840). We will defend our land. We will never run away. We mean every word here.}

^{“As for those Muslim haters among the Christians who are only interested in using the opportunity to profile, silhouette, stereotype and deal with Yoruba Muslims and  those who are protecting them, they have been bitten by the acrobatic religiousity bug. Their hidden agenda will fail.”}

^{‎‎‎#BanditsInYorubaland}

^{‎#DontProfileYorubaMuslims}

^{‎#StopSilhouetting}

^{#YorubaStandUp}

^{#GallantYorubaVigilantes}

^‎

^{‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,} 

^{‎Founder/Executive Director,} 

^{‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).}

 

PANTAMI EMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR GOMBE GOVERNORSHIP - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎28^th May, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎PANTAMI EMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR GOMBE GOVERNORSHIP - MURIC

‎‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ibrahim Isa Ali Pantami is eminently qualified for the post of governor in Gombe State. 

‎‎In a declaration signed by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Thursday, 28th May, 2026, MURIC affirmed that its general nonpartisanship  cannot diminish its support for an eminently qualified candidate no matter his political party.

‎The group also added that it had no problem with the former minister's new party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and its newly picked presidential candidate, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

‎‎In its own words:

‎‎"The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ibrahim Isa Ali Pantami has been declared the gubernatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State  (https://reubenabati.com/news/2027-pantami-dumps-apc-wins-pdp-guber-primary). 

‎‎"The former minister had earlier rejected the consensus arrangement of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state about three weeks ago before defecting to the PDP. 

‎‎"We rejoice with the former minister on his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Gombe State. We also congratulate the PDP for catching a big fish. We urge Gombe voters to appreciate the value of their  gubernatorial candidate by  massively voting for him.

‎‎"We assert clearly, unequivocally, totally and categorically that Shaykh Pantami is eminently qualified to lead the people of Gombe. As a renowned Islamic scholar and erudite academic, Shaykh Pantami has all the prerequisites to guide the predominantly Muslim population towards a meaningful, happy and prosperous Muslim life. 

‎‎"We therefore call on the good Muslims of Gombe to seize this golden opportunity to set pristine Islam as their moral compass.

‎"This is a chance in a life time. It is not everyday that majority Muslims in a state have the opportunity to vote in an Islamic scholar. Shaykh Pantami is a veritable fountain of knowledge, an academic guru and a technocrat nulli secundus.

‎‎"We affirm that our general nonpartisanship  cannot diminish our support for an eminently qualified candidate no matter his political party. We are party-blind and we have no problem with the former minister's new political party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP). 

‎‎"Neither do we have any reservations about the PDP's recently picked presidential candidate, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whom we consider as having conducted himself with decency and dignity since he left office as president."

‎‎#GombePDPPrimary

‎#Pantami

‎#BigFish

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

WHY IS THERE NO FREE TRAIN RIDE FOR SALAH? - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎25^th May, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎WHY IS THERE NO FREE TRAIN RIDE FOR SALAH? - MURIC

‎‎The Federal Government (FG) has been taken to task over the absence of free train services for this 2026 Salah ('Id al-kabiir).

‎‎Raising the question on Monday, 25th May, 2026 was the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. In a statement captioned 'Why Is There No Free Train Ride For Salah?', MURIC sought to know why free train, which is always offered during Christmas, is not available for Salah.

‎‎The group ascribed this to preferential treatment and concluded that all shadows of doubts concerning FG's discriminatory stance will be removed if another free train is offered during Christmas in December 2026.

‎‎The statement continued:

‎‎"We have observed that the Federal Government (FG) has not announced any free train ride for this 2026 Salah ('Id al-kabiir) which will be marked from Wednesday 27th May to Friday, 29th May, 2026.

‎‎"We waited patiently until Monday evening before issuing this statement. The Salah festival is just 48 hours away and there has been no announcement yet as far as we know as at 8.39 pm.

‎‎"Instead of free train rides, what FG has announced is increased train services of six trips per day for Salah (https://leadership.ng/nrc-to-operate-6-train-trips-on-lagos-ibadan-for-sallah/).

‎‎"However, as indicated in the reference above, Osun State government announced free train services as a continuation of the Rauf Aregbesola tradition. We give kudos to the government of Osun State for this.

‎‎"We are grossly disappointed by FG's attitude on this issue. Free train rides have been offered by FG for the past three years during Christmas and Easter. Sometimes the free rides last more than a week (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/761753-updated-christmas-nigerian-govt-announces-free-train-ride-for-15-days.html;

‎https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/easter-nrc-rolls-out-special-train-services-free-ride-on-lagos-osogbo-corridor/amp/;).

‎‎"Is this proper? Why is there no free train for Salah while Christmas and Easter are always favoured. What is FG trying to tell us?

‎‎"Interestingly enough, this is not the first time MURIC will complain about this discriminatory practice. We have complained before and internet has not forgotten. We complained in June 2025 yet nothing has changed. (https://punchng.com/muric-accuses-fg-of-religious-bias-over-free-train-rides/).

‎‎"Is FG trying to provoke Nigerian Muslims? It looks very much like it. If that is so, we are here to interrogate this act of neglect of the interest of Muslims.

‎‎"All shadows of doubts concerning FG's discriminatory stance will be removed if another free train is offered during Christmas in December 2026 after failing to do the same for Salah in May 2026. It will then become very glaring that FG has really decided to throw Nigerian Muslims under the bus.

‎‎"FG rushes to please Nigerian Christians but treats the Muslims like third class citizens. This attitude constitutes a threat to the sense of belonging of Muslims. It challenges the unity of the country and pokes fingers of arrogance at the chest of interfaith relationship.

‎‎"For the avoidance of doubts, we are fully aware that free train ride is not a right. It is a privilege. But why was it started if it cannot be objectively applied? Why do it for Christians if it will not be done for Muslims? Why do it for Christmas if it will not be done for Salah? December 2026 is just around the corner."

‎‎#FederalGovernment

‎#NRC

‎#FreeTrain

‎#LikeChristmasLikeSalah

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

PRIMARIES: MURIC CONGRATULATES HAMZAT, OTHERS ACROSS PARTIES

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)*

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎22^nd May, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎

‎PRIMARIES: MURIC CONGRATULATES HAMZAT, OTHERS ACROSS PARTIES

‎

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who emerged governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State yesterday.

‎‎In the congratulatory message signed by the Executive Director of the civil liberties organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Friday, 22^nd May, 2026, the group also felicitated with all successful candidates at all levels of the primary elections regardless of their political, religious or ethnic leanings.

‎‎According to MURIC:

‎‎"Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat yesterday emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State. 

‎‎"He emerged after scaling through rigorous screening by party officials and winning the election's primary. According to the Returning Officer, retired General Jonathan Temlong, Dr. Hamzat polled 657,917 votes to defeat his rival, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who secured one vote only (https://www.channelstv.com/2026/05/21/hamzat-emerges-lagos-apc-governorship-candidate-with-657917-votes/amp/).

‎‎"Two other candidates, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, and Samuel Ajose, had earlier withdrawn from the race.

‎‎MURIC heartily congratulates Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat for this great feat. We look forward to its replication at the 2027 general elections.

‎‎"MURIC appreciates the endorsements of Dr. Hamzat by APC party leaders as well as the unreserved blessing of his candidature by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‎‎"In the same vein, we felicitate with all candidates who won their primaries whether at governorship, senatorial or other levels. Your victories are fruits of your labour.

"Meanwhile we reaffirm our earlier position that there is no desertification of expertise in Islamdom. Highly skilled Muslims exist in all fields of human endeavour.

‎‎"Nigerian kingmakers and political godfathers should therefore stop looking for competent individuals who can be governors, lawmakers, ministers, commissioners, heads of agencies, etc among Christians alone.

‎‎"We are not allergic to Christians emerging candidates or presidents, governors, etc but monopoly of public offices by Christians under the excuse of searching for competence must be avoided.

‎‎"The emergence of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the eminently qualified gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Lagos State after rigorous screening and a seamless and credible primary election, bears eloquent testimony to our position.

‎‎"More testimonies of the brilliance and high competence of Muslims abound in the excellent performance of Muslims in public office around the country.

‎‎"Professor Ishaq Oloyede has left an indellible mark on the sand of time in JAMB. In like manner, Professor Ibrahim Ali Isa Pantami laid a solid foundation at the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Their records will be difficult to break for a long time. It is noteworthy that both were, essentially, Islamic scholars, which adds more lustre to their laurels."

‎‎#CongratsHamzat

‎#MuslimCandidatesMatterToo

‎#CongratsPrimaryWinners

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

WE REJECT MAKINDE'S CHRISTIAN SUCCESSOR – MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎19^th May, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎

‎WE REJECT MAKINDE'S CHRISTIAN SUCCESSOR – MURIC

 

‎‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the candidate endorsed by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. 

‎‎The group argued that Makinde is acting a religious script to oppress Oyo State Muslims by attempting to coronate a Christian as his successor who will spend another eight years after Makinde himself, a Christian, has spent eight gruesome years of Christianisation and suppression of Islam in the state.

‎‎In a statement circulated to pressmen on Tuesday, 19th May, 2026, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused Governor Makinde of diverting all the milk and honey in Oyo State to the Christians while Muslims wallowed in abject poverty. 

‎‎"It is turn by turn", Akintola insisted. "Seyi Makinde, a Christian governor, has spent eight years in office. He has no right to annoint another Christian as his successor. Christian monopoly of governance must be stopped in Yorubaland.

‎‎"We have a convention. If a Muslim spends eight years in office, a Christian should succeed him. It is so vice versa. Why does Makinde want to change that unwritten protocol? It is the turn of the Muslims. Makinde should not ignite a religious crisis in Oyo State.

‎‎"We charge Muslim leaders in the state to resist this imposition with every legitimate means at their disposal. Muslims have the population. They pay the highest tax. But Makinde has turned them into 3rd class citizens. Why should Muslims hold the horns of the cow while the Christians milk it?

‎‎"If Makinde thinks Muslims in the state have forgotten his anti-Muslim antics, then he has got another thing coming. The list of his atrocities against Muslims is longer than the Nile. But we will not mention them now.  They will remain in the cooler until he starts seeking Muslim votes for his presidential joke."

‎‎#OyoForMuslimGovernor

‎#NoToMakindeChristianSuccessor

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

‎

 

‎

‎

‎

 

 

PRIMARIES: MURIC CONGRATULATES HAMZAT, OTHERS ACROSS PARTIES

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎

18^th May, 2026

‎

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎

‎VIOLATION OF EL-RUFAI'S RIGHTS DEPLORABLE - MURIC TELLS ICPC

‎

‎One of the wives of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) of disallowing her from giving her husband his food. El-Rufai's son, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has also corroborated the allegation.

‎

‎Reacting to this development, a Nigerian civil liberties group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a press release circulated to the media by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Monday, 18^th May, 2026, described the situation as deplorable, unjustifiable and unacceptable.

‎

‎MURIC said:

‎

‎"We are in possession of a viral video in which one of the wives of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai accused the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) of disallowing her from giving her husband his food (https://leadership.ng/el-rufais-wife-accuses-icpc-of-blocking-family-access-to-detained-husband/).

‎

‎El-Rufai's son, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has also corroborated the allegation (https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/16/you-have-continued-to-violate-my-fathers-rights-el-rufai-tells-icpc/).

‎

‎"If found to be true, it means ICPC is using starvation as a weapon to force Mallam El-Rufai to do things against his free will.  It is Gestapo tactics. It constitutes a blatant violation of El-Rufai's Allah-given fundamental human right. It is deplorable, unjustifiable and unacceptable.

‎

‎"Nigerians will not accept Gestapo treatment from ICPC or any government agency under any guise. 

‎

‎"It is therefore mandatory on ICPC to speak up on the matter. We need urgent explanations.  Does ICPC intend to stint El-Rufai of food? Do they plan to starve him to death? Or is ICPC's 'choice of food' for El-Rufai on the table and for what cassu belli?

‎

‎"Whichever way the pendulum swings, nothing must happen to El-Rufai. Nigerians saw him looking as fit as a fiddle the day he walked inside EFCC office to surrender himself. His family doctor knows his health condition. El-Rufai must not develop any strange ailment in ICPC facility.

‎

‎"MURIC charges the media and civil society to speak up on the ongoing tribulations of Mallam El-Rufai. It is a duty to do so and a dereliction to look the other way. Posterity will judge where you stand"

‎

‎#JusticeForElRufai

‎#NoToICPCGestapoTactics

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).