KIDNAPPERS DEMAND FOR SHARI’AH: IT IS A LIE – MURIC

‎‎ MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎8^th June, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

KIDNAPPERS DEMAND FOR SHARI’AH: IT IS A LIE – MURIC

Kidnappers of Esiele school children have allegedly demanded the implementation of Shari’ah among other things as conditions for releasing the children. But an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has debunked the so-called demand, labeling it as ‘a lie from the pit of Jahannam’.

MURIC argued that the so-called demand was inserted by enemies of Islam in the negotiation team to tarnish the image of Islam.

In a statement signed on Monday 8th June, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group insisted that Nigerian Muslims have nothing in common with bloodthirsty groups like kidnappers, bandits, Boko Haram and other terrorists.

The group shed more light on the issue:

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has received with grave concern reports alleging that the kidnappers of school children and teachers in Oyo State demanded the implementation of Shariah in the South-West as part of their conditions.

“We reject this report. It is a smokescreen. That so called demand for Shari’ah was inserted by Muslim-haters among the negotiators and the so-called demand was calculated to tarnish the image of Islam. It is a scheme to paint Islam black and those behind it are hot gospellers and Christian leaders who are scared of the growth of Islam in Yorubaland in spite of all their diabolical machinations.

“We cannot rule out the involvement of Governor Seyi Makinde and his agents in this devilish attempt to robe Shari’ah in criminal apparels. Afterall he once swore that Shari’ah would never find a place in Oyo State. It is not impossible, therefore, that the demand was fabricated in Agodi Government House. It is a satanic blackmail designed to silence Yoruba Muslims who have been demanding Shari’ah.

“It is a lie from the pit of Jahannam!

“Nonetheless, while we disown the so called kidnappers’ demand and we dismiss it as a gimmick for distraction, MURIC wishes to state categorically that the struggle for the establishment of Shariah Courts in the South-West is a legitimate, constitutional, and peaceful demand of Muslims in the region.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right of Muslims to seek access to Shariah Courts, just as adherents of other faiths enjoy institutions that cater to their religious needs. The refusal to allow Yoruba Muslims to practice Shari’ah is a denial of religious freedom, a deprivation of access to the judicial system and the creation of a barrier to justice.

“For this reason, MURIC remains at the forefront of advocating for the establishment of Shariah Courts in the South-West through lawful, democratic, and constitutional means. Yoruba Muslims stand firmly by this demand because it is their fundamental right as citizens of Nigeria.

“However, we unequivocally condemn the kidnapping of innocent school children and teachers in Oyo State. Such an act is barbaric, criminal, and totally inconsistent with the teachings of Islam. Those responsible for this heinous crime cannot and will never be the mouthpiece of Yoruba Muslims. They are bloodthirsty criminals who have no locus standi to demand Shari’ah on behalf of patriotic and law-abiding Yoruba Muslims.

“We reiterate that the so-called demand is traceable to enemies of Islam, hot gospellers and Christian leaders who are frustrated by the continued growth of Islam in Yorubaland in spite of their evil machinations against the Muslims.
It is an attempt to blackmail Yoruba Muslims who have been demanding Shari’ah for decades. Their desire is to silence the agitation for Shari’ah.

‎”They therefore devised a means to give Shari’ah a bad name the same way that you give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. They assumed that Nigerians would reject Shari’ah particularly if its demand now comes from a criminal and notorious group like kidnappers. It is a satanic plot. But they have failed woefully.

“The wind has blown. We have seen the ruff of the hen. Nigerians have seen through this diabolical trick. Many Nigerians who have fallen victim of kidnappers have testified that they saw no signs of being practicing Muslims in them. A Nigerian who spent eleven days in captivity said the kidnappers did not observe the Muslim prayer (Salat) even once.

‎”Security agents who raided bandits’ and kidnappers’ camps have also confirmed that what they found in their camps belie the claim that they represent Muslims or the religion of Islam. Condoms were scattered all over the floor. They found abandoned bottles of alcohol and various types of hot drinks. There were also half empty bottles of these hurriedly abandoned alcoholic drinks.

‎”So how can such a group demand Shari’ah? It is a smokescreen concocted by those determined to permanently bury the agitation for Shari’ah. But they have picked a very wicked, conscienceless and luciferous method to achieve their objective.

“Bandits and kidnappers do not practice Islam. So how can they make demands for the implementation of Shari’ah? This is another abracadabra concocted by enemies of Islam. We refuse to be deceived. Stop selling dummies to Nigerians.

“That so called demand for Shari’ah was inserted by Muslim haters among the negotiators and the so called demand was calculated to tarnish the image of Islam. We reject it. It is a satanic blackmail designed to silence Yoruba Muslims who have been demanding Shari’ah. It is a lie from the pit of Jahannam!”

‎‎#OyoKidnappedChildren

‎#NoShariahDemand

‎#StopDeceivingNigerians

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).