The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the immediate delisting of examination centres accused of enforcing discriminatory practices against hijab-wearing candidates during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The group also urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to sanction any officials found culpable in such incidents.
MURIC’s demand follows a viral video showing a Muslim candidate allegedly being harassed and denied entry into an examination centre for wearing a hijab at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan.
In a statement issued on Saturday, April 18, 2026, MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, described the incident as “disturbing” and a violation of the rights of Muslim candidates.
He noted that forcing candidates to remove their hijabs before gaining access to examination halls undermines their dignity and negatively impacts their performance.
According to Akintola, such actions contradict JAMB’s official stance, which prohibits discrimination based on religious dressing. He stressed that candidates subjected to such treatment are often emotionally distressed and disadvantaged, as they lose valuable examination time.
The group further accused authorities in the South-West region of failing to enforce court rulings affirming the right of Muslim girls to wear hijab in public institutions, describing the silence of state governments as “deafening.”
MURIC warned that continued violations could heighten religious tensions if not addressed promptly, calling for accountability and strict enforcement of existing laws protecting religious freedom.
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The organization also disclosed plans to compile a list of alleged violators of religious rights and forward it to the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations.
It insisted that delisting affected centres and prosecuting offenders would serve as a deterrent and ensure compliance with constitutional provisions on freedom of religion.
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