* MURIC, MPAC condemn threats, seek arrest of promoters of hate speeches
A growing wave of inciting rhetoric and hostile messaging has triggered palpable fear among Igbo Muslims in parts of South-East Nigeria, with community members warning that threats against them have intensified in recent days.
Reports reaching Muslim News indicate that some individuals identifying as Igbo Christians have circulated messages, largely on social media, calling on fellow Igbos to attack, expel or harm their kinsmen who have embraced Islam.
The messages reportedly describe Islam as “antithetical to Igbo culture” and claim that it is a taboo (forbidden) for Igbos to practise the faith, with some insisting that converts should relocate to predominantly Muslim regions of northern Nigeria.
The situation came to wider public attention after Muslim News received a 10-minute video titled “SOS: Igbo Muslim Lady Raises Alarm Over Safety of Muslims in Nsukka.”
In the clip, an Igbo Muslim woman, Besira Ugochi Abdullahi, expressed grave concern over what she describes as escalating hostility toward Muslims in Nsukka, Enugu State.
“This is no longer something to joke about,” she said, warning that members of the Muslim community now fear for their lives.
She appealed to security agencies to intervene urgently to protect lives and property, noting that threats and verbal abuse have become more frequent and more explicit.
Reactions that followed the circulation of the video appeared to confirm the depth of the hostility, with some commenters reiterating claims that Islam does not belong to Igbo society.
The development has drawn sharp condemnation from Muslim organisations and civil society groups across Nigeria, many of which are calling for swift action by law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for inciting violence.
Arrest Maazi Kanayo for inciting violence against Igbo Muslims: MURIC
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute a man identified as Maazi Kanayo over an audio recording circulating online.
According to MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the audio allegedly calls on people in the South-East to kidnap Igbo Muslims and bury them alive.
MURIC said the recording specifically mentions Muslims of Igbo extraction living in Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, warning that such rhetoric places “the lives of thousands of Igbo Muslims on the line” and could spark communal unrest.
The organisation called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to act without delay, stressing that “every minute counts.”
MPAC condemns inciting audio targeting Igbo Muslims
Similarly, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria strongly condemned the disturbing audio circulating on social media, particularly on TikTok by a user identified as @ugochukwubesira, who allegedly incites members of the Igbo ethnic group to wage war against fellow Igbos who practise Islam.
MPAC, through its Executive Chairman, Mal. Disu Kamor, stated that the content of the audio amounts to extreme hate speech and direct incitement to violence. It described the message as a serious threat to public safety and a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees, including the right to life, dignity, and freedom of religion.
“History has shown that genocidal violence begins with words left unchecked,” Mal Kamor warned, urging security and intelligence agencies to investigate the origin and spread of the audio, brief the nation on steps being taken, and ensure the safety of Igbo Muslims and other potentially targeted communities.
The organisation also called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities and opinion shapers in the South-East to publicly denounce calls to violence and reaffirm commitments to peaceful coexistence.
He appealed to social media platforms and regulators to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony.
Rights advocates emphasise that Igbo Muslims are an integral part of both the Igbo nation and the Nigerian state, warning that attempts to delegitimise their identity or faith undermine national unity. They caution that silence or inaction in the face of incitement could embolden extremists and lead to irreversible consequences.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official public response from security agencies regarding the alleged audio or the concerns raised by Igbo Muslims in Nsukka and other parts of the South-East.
Meanwhile, community members say fear remains high, with many calling for urgent reassurance and concrete protection measures before threats translate into violence.
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