Many Nigerian Muslims on social media have described as “religious intolerance” the news that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) prevented female Muslims in Hijab from entering its premises for registration of National Identity Number (NIN).
Muslim News had exclusively reported on Friday how the management of the RCCG instructed its security team not to allow Muslim ladies in Hijab enter its camp along Lagos Ibadan expressway to register for the NIN exercise.
The news angered concerned Muslims on social media as they demanded an immediate relocation of the RCCG NIMC registration centre to a less intolerant location devoid of discrimination and bias to all.
https://twitter.com/Abadam__/status/1347574549508972546?s=19
In his reaction, Sakiru Otunda decried the plot to deny Muslims of their rights and media bias towards the Muslims, saying, “Most times, the plots are done intentionally to deny the easily identifiable Muslims their right. They did similar things to our girls in Hijab during other registration exercises such as JAMB or WAEC.
“And were it to be other way round, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) would have petitioned UK, USA, UN and the whole world, accusing the Muslims of a phantom plan to Islamise Nigeria. Summarily, Muslims should also wake up,” he added.
Similarly another user, Salami Kaseem called for the immediate relocation of the NIN registration centre, saying that the process has been hijacked by religious bigots.
In his words, “The centre should be relocated forthwith. It’s a no-no that National Identity Registration Process should be hijacked by intolerant religious bigots”.
Corroborating Salami’s view, Adetunji Hameed said, “ NIMC should quickly relocate from the RCCG. The registration is meant for everybody not for RCCG. Religious Fanatism”.
Mosques should also apply for centres
Some Muslim netizens however said rather than calling for the relocation of the centre from the Church, there has been calls for mosques and Islamic centres to be accredited for the registration in order to curb religious fanatism and discrimination.
Redeemed church stops Muslim ladies from NIN registration over Hijab#RCCG is one of the enrolment centres accredited by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Ogun State. Read more > https://t.co/skhDptjxPx#politicstoday @CTVpolitics @nimc_ng @rccghq @TVCtrends
— Rasheed Abubakar (@rawshieldpr) January 8, 2021
A social media User Jibril Ibrahim noted that since the National Mosque, Abuja is one of the NIMC accredited centres, mosques in other cities and States across the country should be used as centres.
According to him, “National Mosque and Al Noor Mosque in Abuja are NIMC registration centres, I think some mosques should arrange to be registration centres in that locality”.
One Sanusi Adekunle Saheed queried the absence of registration centres in major Islamic centres. He asked; “Where is the NASFAT centres and other Muslim bodies?”, he asked.
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The centre should immediately be relocated, they were known for that, but if this happen other way round you will be hearing them on all media. The Muslim around those area should also wake up and demand for their right. Also as this is national responsibility and demand by Government, such exercise should not be centred in these type of areas. Jazakum LLAH Khaera for informing us on this.