MURIC raises alarm over alleged persecution of Muslims in Oyo State
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised alarm over alleged religious persecution of Muslim faithful in Oyo State by the administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde.
Ambassador Ibrahim Agunbiade, the State Secretary, MURIC, stated this when he addressed a World Press Conference on Thursday in Ibadan.
“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Oyo State chapter wishes to call the attention of the whole world to the persistent and deliberate acts of religious persecution against Muslims in Oyo State.
“We affirm that there has been a plethora of religious persecutions in several places and at different occasions in Oyo State under various regimes but the worst of such religious victimisation is happening under the current administration of Governor Seyi Makinde. Below is a list of the evil machinations of Oyo State Christian officials against innocent Muslims,” Agunbiade said.
He said that the marginalisation of Muslims in the state include the unlawful restriction of hijab in some state-owned public missionary schools.
“Teachers in Oyo State government primary and secondary schools snatch hijabs from the heads of female Muslim students and seize them, sometimes permanently.
“This matter almost escalated into a major crisis in Ibadan before MURIC intervened, following multiple complaints from parents whose daughters were being denied their right to wear the hijab in publicly funded institutions.
“Though the state government acknowledged the issue and issued directives but the abuse continued as many school principals have refused to comply while the government has failed to enforce its directive. This suggests official complicity.
“There is also open disregard for court ruling to continue encroaching on the rights of Muslims: the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared that hijab is legitimate but many schools in Oyo State continue to deprive Muslim girls of the right to wear it. The government of Oyo State conveniently endorsed this impunity, contempt of court and disregard of the rule of law by lookin the other way.”
“In line with the National Council on Education (NCE) directive, the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) issued a circular requiring all public and private schools in Nigeria to teach Islamic Studies, Christian studies and History in all public schools but while the Oyo State Government initially agreed and issued a supporting circular on 12th March 2025, less than a month later, they reversed their stance by issuing another circular that contradicted the original directive of the NCE. As a result only a few schools have been teaching Islamic Studies. This makes it easy to deny Muslim students access to knowledge about their faith. The aim is to turn the into half-baked muslims who will be easy to manipulate and convert to Christianity.
“Surreptitious, immoral and illegal methods of converting Muslim students to Christianity: Muslim students are often marched out from their schools to evangelical grounds under the false pretence of going for empowerment programmes.
“There is also the marginalisation of Muslims in political appointments:MURIC Oyo State chapter expresses deep concern over the recurring pattern of marginalisation of Muslims in key political appointments within the state. Despite the fact that Muslims form the majority of the population and their contributions to the economy and community development, appointments into strategic offices continue to reflect a clear imbalance. For instance, Governor Seyi Makinde appointed ten Christians as commissioners but he gave Muslims six only. This is lopsided and unfair.
“Lack of a single Shari’ah court in Oyo State: It is worrisome that Oyo State remains without a single Shari’ah court, despite repeated appeals by Muslims who constitutionally have the right to access Shari’ah personal law services. This omission is a clear denial of religious rights and deprivation of access to the legal system”.
“Forcing Muslim students to sing Christmas carol: some schools in Oyo State are in the habit of forcing Muslim students to sing Christmas carol. An example is what happened at St. Anne’s School, Molete, Ibadan on 12th December, 2022.
“Religious discrimination in Oyo state nursing schools: discriminatory treatment against Muslim students occur frequently in nursing schools across the state.
“Christianisation of TESCOM recruitment examinations: the recruitment examination into the Oyo State teaching service in August 2022 was manipulated in favour of Christian candidates by drawing questions from biblical stories.
“The manipulation was obviously designed to edge out Muslim candidates. This is one undeniable example of how employment opportunities are made to favour Christians only in Oyo State with government’s connivance.”
“It is another disturbing trend which undermines merit, fairness and confidence in the state’s educational and employment systems.
“Gov. Seyi Makinde in particular as well as other government officials, teachers, university lecturers, etc are in the habit of fixing functions, examinations, meetings, etc at Muslim Friday prayer times in order to disallow Muslims from worshiping on Fridays. This is contrary to the constitutional provision which stipulates religiius freedom.”
