MURIC Accuses Nigerian Media of Silencing Muslim Voices in Christian Genocide Debate

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Nigerian media organisations of systematically excluding Muslim scholars and perspectives from national discussions surrounding allegations of Christian genocide in the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, criticised what he described as one-sided reporting, claiming that both print and broadcast platforms have “shut out” Muslim voices on an issue that has generated intense national and international attention.

According to Akintola, the current media landscape is “dangerously lopsided,” allowing Christian clerics to make sweeping allegations without granting Muslims a fair opportunity to respond.

“The Muslims are being framed. Worse still, they are gagged by the press. They are voiceless, oppressed and repressed… The question on our lips is: when will the media hear from the Muslims?” he said.

Akintola argued that the press, “except for very few,” has drifted from fairness and professional balance, insisting that Islamic scholars and affected Muslim communities deserve equal representation.

‘Biased Platforming’ and Lack of Balance

MURIC specifically referenced a 10 November interview featuring Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo on News Central TV, claiming the station failed to invite any Muslim scholar from the same region to counter the allegations.

The group pointed out that Muslims from Dachomo’s locality, under the Mangu Concerned Muslim Consultative Forum, have already disputed those claims, alleging instead that Christians in the North Central have been targeting Muslims for over two decades.

Akintola said such counter-narratives are rarely given prominence, contributing to what he described as a “programmed hostility” against Islam and its followers.

‘Muslims Are Also Victims’

The organisation stressed that Muslims in the North West and North East—areas plagued by terrorism—have suffered devastating losses that remain underreported.

“At least the whole world knows that those being killed by the terrorists in Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Kebbi, Yobe, etc., are Muslims,” the statement read.

Warning that selective reporting can heighten tensions, MURIC cautioned media houses about their role in shaping narratives that may inadvertently incite unrest.

Call for Regulatory Intervention

The group urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to step in and enforce professional balance in media coverage.

“We frown at this parochial path of exclusivity trodden by the Nigerian media. We demand to know when Muslims will be given a place at the table,” Akintola said, adding that a discussion that excludes Muslims “cannot be called a national conversation.”

Context: Rising Global Scrutiny

The debate intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” on 31 October 2025, citing religious freedom violations. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) insists that Christians are experiencing a form of genocide, pointing to repeated attacks and years of persecution.

MURIC, however, maintains that the conversation is incomplete and unfairly skewed unless Muslim voices are equally heard.