An outspoken Islamic organization in the country, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has strongly opposed the recent call by the Plateau State Government for the withdrawal of soldiers from security hotspots across the state, describing the request as “diabolical” and politically motivated.
The state government, through its Special Envoy on Peace and Security, last week demanded that soldiers deployed to volatile areas be replaced with mobile policemen.
But MURIC, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, and released on Tuesday, alleged that the request was made with ulterior motives.
“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) smell a rat in this demand,” the statement read.
“There is more to it than meets the eye. Why should a state enveloped in viral killings demand the removal of soldiers from crisis areas? It does not add up. Plateau has a sinister motive,” Akintola stated.
MURIC expressed concern over what it described as a pattern of manipulation and deception in the state’s handling of communal violence.
It accused Plateau authorities of shielding violent actors and criticized what it claimed were biased peace building efforts.
The organization also questioned the Plateau State government’s preference for mobile police over soldiers, suggesting it was part of a strategic plan to exploit the large number of mobile police officers allegedly recruited from the North Central region.
“The government of Plateau State cannot be trusted for the general protection of all citizens in the state” Akintola submitted.
MURIC, therefore, called for the continued presence of the military, stating that their neutrality and national composition make them essential for ensuring fair and transparent security operations.
It further argued that past committees set up to investigate and address violent outbreaks in the region were unbalanced and failed to achieve lasting peace.