Stop killing Muslims in South East, MURIC warns after another Islamic scholar killed in Ebonyi
By KEMI KASUMU
“Apart from the systematic physical elimination of Muslims in the region, Igbo Muslims are treated like second class citizens. They are accused of embracing Hausa religion. Plots of land belonging to Islamic organisations in the South East are commandeered by state governments.”
The Abuja chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised the alarm over the continuous killing of Muslims in the South East by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
MURIC is worried that Islam may soon go into extinction in the region if the killings continue unabated.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, 8th September, 2022, by the chairman of the organization in Abuja FCT chapter, Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen.
The statement reads: “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has turned the South East into a huge killing ground with Muslims as the main targets. IPOB’s latest Muslim victim, Shaykh Ibrahim Iyiorji was killed in front of his house which is located at Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and in the presence of members of his family just four days ago on Sunday, 4th September, 2022.
“Earlier, seven Muslims were killed on Friday, 5th August, 2022 in Orogwe community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State when suspected IPOB members opened fire on them (https://dailynigerian.com/ipob-attacks-hausa-community/).
“Four Muslims, Rabiu Aminu (45), Abdul Kadir Muktar (33), Aminu Amadu (37) and Rabiu Isaka (30) were shot dead in Umuaka, near Orlu on 4th April, 2021 (https://www.sunnewsonline.com/hausa-community-pleads-for-calmness-as-gunmen-kill-4-northerners-in-imo/).
“Eleven Muslims were killed in Port Harcourt and Orlu on 20th October, 2020 during the #EndSARS protests. After burning Ehime Mbano Police station, the attackers killed an innocent Muslim by name Abdullahi Ahmadu with his cows at Isieweke Ihite Iboma LGA on 27th April, 2021.
“Five innocent Northern Muslims were also killed at an Hausa settlement near the popular Abraka Market in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, 15th September, 2017. Scores of others were injured. In another attack, an irate IPOB mob attacked the Yoruba Mosque in Umuahia, Abia State. The marauding hoodlums destroyed the mosque, tore copies of the Glorious Qur’an and defecated inside the mosque. Some Yoruba Muslims caught up in the mayhem were manhandled and robbed of their laptops and handsets.
“It is therefore another wicked, malicious and luciferous variation of ‘truth’ for anyone to claim that it is only Christians that are being killed in Nigeria. We call the attention of Western embassies in the country, particularly the United States of America, to the brutish slaughtering of Muslims in the South East.
“Besides targeted killings, places of worship belonging to Muslims are attacked at random. Exempli gratia, two mosques were set ablaze by the Igbo in Enugu on Saturday, 31st October, 2020. The only surviving Islamic School in the South East which is located at Afikpo, Ebonyi State has also received threats of impending invasion. The Orlu Central Mosque was completely destroyed during the #EndSARS riot.
“Many Muslims in Igboland have gone into hiding. Hundreds have fled the region to escape from these heartless killers. The few Igbo Muslims who have elected to hang around continue to live in constant fear, whether at home or on the streets.
“MURIC strongly condemns the continuous, targeted, strategic and methodical killing of Muslims in the South East. It is crystal clear at this stage that the aim of those waging this bloody campaign is to exterminate all vestiges of Islam from the region.
“MURIC appeals to the security agencies in the South East to protect innocent and law abiding Muslims living in the region. We remind the state governors in this area of interest to that the security of lives and properties is the primary business of government at both federal and state levels.
“Apart from the systematic physical elimination of Muslims in the region, Igbo Muslims are treated like second class citizens. They are accused of embracing Hausa religion. Plots of land belonging to Islamic organisations in the South East are commandeered by state governments. They are denied certificates of occupancy. Mosques are demolished at will and Muslim pilgrims boards are unable to operate normally.”
