The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, has called on the National Security Adviser, NSA, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd) and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun to give an urgent attention to the alleged threat to lives of Igbo Muslims in the South East in order to avoid crisis in the country.
MMWG had raised an alarm recently following the circulation of audio clips voiced by one Mazi Kanayo calling on Igbo citizens to abduct any Igbo Muslim they found and kill him or her by burying them alive.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Yusuf Agbabiaka and the Enugu State Coordinator, Ustaz Isa Christian Okonkwo, the group said the situation becomes worrisome with the silence of the Police; Department of State Services, DSS, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the five state governments in the South East and the National Human Right Commission, NHRC over the planned action of a section of the citizens to wage war on Igbo Muslims “despite the provisions in Section 35 of the nation’s Constitution that guarantees freedom of worship and association for every Nigerian.”
According to the statement, “Islam, as a religion, is not new in Igboland. Islam has been existing there for close to 200 years. If some people who are ignorant are just knowing, it’s unfortunate.”
For the past 72 years, it stated that the Islamic Centre in Afikpo, Ebonyi State established by late Alhaji Ibrahim Nwagui, had been in existence, training thousands of Muslim youths, most of who have become professors, academics, engineers and scholars in various fields.
Highlighting the dangers inherent in the threats to the lives of Igbo Muslims, MMWG urged security forces to trace the group that call itself “Ohaukwu Reporters”, sending life-threatening messages electronically out of religious fanaticism and intolerance.
It said “the messages of hate, wickedness and murderous intention are being sent to the people of Enugu State especially in Nsukka where the life of an Islamic scholar and Imam of Alor-Agu in Igbo-Eze Local Government Area of Enugu State, Imam Sirajudeen Ugwu Nwansukka is being threatened.”
Wondering whether the Police and other security agencies in the South East waiting for ‘operation kill Igbo Muslims’ to start before they react, the group urged them to be more proactive instead of being reactive, noting that this has always been the bane of security problems in the country.