A Muslim advocacy group, the Muslim League Unity Group, has warned foreign based actors against what it calls attempts to inflame religious tensions in Nigeria through misinformation and politically motivated narratives.
In a statement jointly signed by Professors Ahmed Umar Daudu and Yunusa Bala Maikafi, the group accused some international Christian organisations, particularly in the United States, of circulating “doctored reports” about alleged persecution of Christians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It warned that such claims risk deepening distrust and unnecessary division among Nigerians who have historically lived together peacefully despite their different faiths.
The group criticised recent comments attributed to United States Senator Ted Cruz, who was reported to have alleged attacks on Christian schools and places of worship by Muslims in Nigeria. It said the remarks form part of a broader agenda to incite division and promote religious intolerance.
Similarly, it faulted allegations linked to Kimberly Daniels, who reportedly called for the dismissal of Minister of State for Defence Mohammed Bello Matawalle. The group described the claims as unfounded and politically motivated.
While insisting that public officials like Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, must be open to scrutiny, the group stressed that any criticisms should be based on verifiable evidence and due process rather than external pressure or religious bias.
The statement also alleged a pattern of foreign driven accusations targeting prominent Nigerian figures, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and President Tinubu. It defended Matawalle’s record, noting that there is no court conviction, official indictment or audit report directly implicating him in wrongdoing either as Zamfara governor or in his current role.
The group challenged those linking the Federal Government or its officials to extremist activities to provide credible evidence. It argued that security challenges are a global phenomenon, including in the United States, and should not be framed in ways that harden religious fault lines in Nigeria.
Calling for restraint and mutual respect, the Muslim League Unity Group urged both local and foreign stakeholders to avoid narratives that could tear at Nigeria’s long standing culture of religious coexistence. It appealed for a renewed commitment to unity as the 2027 general elections approach.
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