By Fatima Saka
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Oyo State Government of exploiting the recent kidnapping incident in the state to stigmatise Islam and Muslims, calling for urgent clarification over claims that the abductors demanded the implementation of Shari’ah.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the alleged demand by the kidnappers as “illogical” and suggested it may have been fabricated or misrepresented to incite public sentiment against Muslims.
MURIC argued that the emergence of the Shari’ah narrative, reportedly made public through channels linked to the state government, raises “more questions than answers,” insisting that such a claim lacks credibility given that Islamic law has not prevented kidnapping in northern Nigeria.
“The so-called demand for Shari’ah by kidnappers in Oyo State has led us to believe that the government is weaponising the crisis against Muslims in the South-West,” Akintola said.
The group further alleged that the public disclosure of the kidnappers’ conditions, including the controversial Shari’ah demand, could not have occurred without the knowledge or involvement of the state authorities, thereby placing responsibility on Governor Seyi Makinde to address the issue.
MURIC also cited a viral video showing a protest in Ibadan, where participants allegedly chanted anti-Islamic slogans, describing the development as provocative and a direct consequence of the narrative surrounding the kidnapping.
“We hold the Oyo State Government responsible for any incitement arising from this development,” the group stated, urging authorities to confirm whether the kidnappers indeed made such demands.
Questioning the logic behind the alleged condition, MURIC noted that kidnapping remains prevalent in northern Nigeria despite the presence of full Shari’ah law, making it unlikely that abductors in Oyo would demand its implementation.
The group called for greater transparency in the negotiation process and suggested the inclusion of an Islamic scholar to verify claims relating to Shari’ah.
In addition, MURIC warned political actors against aligning with Governor Makinde, alleging that his actions and statements indicate hostility toward Islam.
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The Oyo State Government has yet to officially respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The kidnapping incident, which has drawn widespread attention, continues to raise concerns over security and the politicisation of sensitive religious issues in the region.