Stop burning mosques in Igboland – MURIC
Two mosques were set on fire by Igbo in Enugu on Saturday 31 October 2020. The Islamic School in Afikpo, Ebony State, also received threats of imminent invasion. As a reminder, 11 (eleven) Muslims were killed during the #EndSARS protests in Port Harcourt and Orlu, and the Orlu Central Mosque was completely destroyed just two weeks ago. Markets owned by Muslims in the region were also attacked, and property worth millions of naira was destroyed, including entire trailers of goods.
The Nigerian Islamic Human Rights Group Muslim Concern (MURIC) condemned the attacks on Muslims in Igboland. MURIC called for an end to the burning of mosques in the southeast and south-south. The organization also asked the Inspector General of Police to protect Muslims and their corporate and individual property in the region.
MURIC’s appeal appeared in a press release published on Monday 2 November 2020 by its director, Professor Ishak Akintola.
“Christians of Igbolend are still not satisfied with the cold-blooded killing of 11 (eleven) Muslims during the #EndSARS protests. They want more blood. On Saturday 31 October 2020, they attacked two mosques in Nsukka. It was a mosque at the intersection of the Old Barracks and the Central Mosque on Eden Road, Nsukka.
“The fight reportedly started after a Muslim woman had an argument with Napepa’s driver over transportation costs. It becomes clear that there is a conspiracy to exterminate the Muslims in Igboland, and all the little excuses are used for this. descend on the Muslims living among them.
“Even if we turn to the press, the only Islamic school in all of eastern Nigeria, located in Afikpo, Ebony State, is under tangible and serious threat. In the past week alone, the school has received about three threatening messages. The attack on the school is imminent, and the state government has not said a word. It is a boarding school with about 250 students. These students came from all over Nigeria. What does Governor Ebony think will happen if 250 Muslim students are killed under his supervision?
“MURIC is asking the Inspector General of Police to protect Muslims and their corporate and individual property in Igboland. Likewise, we remind Governors of East and South-South states that the dollar has settled on their desks. As the chief security officers in their states, they are responsible for protecting all citizens under their control. We are reporting attacks on Muslims and their property in the region.
“We demand adequate compensation for the victims of Igbo religious fanaticism. The families of deceased Muslims must receive adequate compensation. The Governor of Enugu State is obliged to restore two mosques burned in Nsukka on Saturday. This is the only way he can reassure Nigerians that he does not tacitly approve of attacks on his Muslim subjects.
“MURIC draws the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the current trend of persistent and unprovoked attacks on Muslims, killing innocent Muslims, setting fire to their mosques and destroying their property in Igboland and the south of the country. – South of Nigeria. It should now be noted that Christians are the first to unleash violence against Nigerian Muslims, and the latter do not even take revenge.
“We note with disgust the hypocritical silence of the diabolical union of the Middle Belt, the Northern Christian Forum of Elders, Afenifera, Ohanese and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). All hell would be unleashed if Christians were killed. But now none of them are worried because the recipients are Muslims. None of them issued statements condemning the unprovoked killing of Muslims, and none of them called the assassins to order. Rather, they are encouraging their youth to shed more Muslim blood.
“They are used to hearing the White House asking the Nigerian authorities,“ Why are you killing Christians in Nigeria? “Oddly enough, no one asked the White House,” Why are you killing black Americans? ” We condemn the asymmetric scale of Western justice, which looks the other way, with Nigerian Christians killing Muslims.
“We instruct the West, especially the United States, to re-evaluate the situation in Nigeria in the real context of real events. Stories of murdered Christians are more often than not marketing gimmicks designed only to raise millions of dollars in charitable donations to Christian missionaries following the “play the sacrifice” soap opera. No one expected America to swallow his hook, line and lead, but that is exactly what America did.
“MURIC applauds Nigerian Muslims for their steadfastness. We do not recommend retaliatory killings or church burning anywhere in the country. Muslims are better off if they practice the true teachings of Islam. The glorious Koran says: “Good and evil are not the same. So pay for evil with good and watch the enemies become close friends (Quran 41:34). “
Professor Ishak Akintola,
Director,
Caring for the Rights of Muslims (MURIK)
