MURIC commends Army headquarters, Mogadishu Cantonment commandant over Mosque reopening
By KEMI KASUMU
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended the Nigerian Army Headquarters and the commandant of Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, for reopening a mosque used by Muslim soldiers and their families after about a week of closure.
The Islamic human rights organisation expressed its appreciation in a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
MURIC said the mosque, located within Mogadishu Cantonment and used for daily prayers by Muslim military personnel and their families residing in the barracks, was reopened on Tuesday, October 20, the same day the organisation publicly appealed for its reopening.
The mosque had reportedly been closed since October 12, 2026.
The organisation had earlier called on the Army Headquarters and the cantonment authorities to explain the reason for the closure and restore access to the mosque for Muslim residents.
According to Akintola, the reopening brought relief to the organisation and renewed its confidence in the country’s institutions.
“The daily prayers mosque inside Mogadishu Cantonment used by Muslim soldiers and their families who reside in the military blocks has been opened,” the statement said.
MURIC described the reopening as a demonstration of professionalism and respect for the rule of law by the Nigerian Army.
“This act is symptomatic of high-level professionalism in the Nigerian Army, undiluted maturity of its senior officers and their deep respect for the rule of law. We doff our hats to the Nigerian Army,” Akintola stated.
The organisation said the prompt reopening showed that constructive appeals could produce positive outcomes, adding that the development had strengthened its belief that grievances could be addressed through institutional engagement.
MURIC also said such actions could improve relations between Muslim communities and the military, particularly in the collective effort to tackle terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges facing the country.
“We have no doubt that actions like this will promote goodwill among Muslims towards the military. That is what we need to defeat the terrorists and insurgents,” the statement added.
The organisation stressed the need for cooperation between citizens and security agencies, arguing that public trust and collaboration were important in efforts to combat crime and insecurity.
It therefore urged Muslims across the country to cooperate fully with military personnel and other security agencies.
“We therefore appeal to Muslims throughout the country to give full cooperation to military personnel and other security agencies at all times,” Akintola said.
MURIC’s commendation followed its earlier public appeal to the Army authorities over the closure, which had raised concerns among Muslim residents who relied on the facility for their daily prayers.
The organisation said the mosque’s reopening had brought relief to affected worshippers and welcomed the development as an opportunity to strengthen understanding between religious communities and the military.
The DEFENDER reports that MURIC’s statement did not disclose the reason for the mosque’s initial closure or indicate whether the Army authorities had issued a separate public explanation.
