The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent Islamic human rights organisation, has raised a critical alarm over a dangerous online audio message that threatens the lives of Muslims of Igbo extraction. The group has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the individual behind the message, identified as Mazi Kanayo.
Urgent Call for Security Intervention
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC disclosed it is in possession of a viral audio clip. The organisation stated that in the clip, Mazi Kanayo explicitly incites people in Nigeria's South-East region to kidnap Igbo Muslims and bury them alive. The audio was reportedly shared via the platform TikTok Lite.
MURIC's statement highlighted that the audio specifically directs potential attackers to target Muslims living in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states. The group described this development as an "extremely dangerous dimension" that puts thousands of lives at immediate risk. It warned that the situation is particularly volatile as some Igbo Muslims hold traditional leadership positions in their communities, raising the spectre of widespread communal unrest.
"This is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the whole country faces serious insecurity," the statement lamented. The organisation made a direct appeal to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to swiftly locate, arrest, detain, and prosecute the instigator. "Every minute counts as the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance," MURIC emphasised.
Condemnation from Igbo Muslim Community
Echoing MURIC's grave concerns, a respected Igbo Muslim preacher, Siraj Ugwu, strongly condemned the threats. In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on the same day, Wednesday, December 31, Ugwu expressed deep pain over the situation.
He shared the controversial audio and wrote: "Indeed, Allah has exposed what was hidden in the darkness. The underground plots, the poisonous hatred, and the evil intentions of some among our own people have now been brought to light."
Ugwu described it as heartbreaking that fellow Igbos would call for harm against their own kin simply for embracing Islam. He labelled the audio message as not only wicked but an assault on humanity and the sacred bond of shared identity. The preacher affirmed that Igbo Muslims reject fear, intimidation, and attempts to erase their existence, asserting their right to freedom of religion within a framework of mutual respect.
"Our faith does not make us strangers in our own land. Our belief does not strip us of our identity, dignity, or rights," Ugwu stated. He concluded his message with a prayer for divine protection for the oppressed and for hearts to turn away from hatred and violence.
Context and Potential Fallout
This incident highlights the worrying pressures faced by Igbo Muslims in a region predominantly populated by adherents of Christianity, traditional religions, and rabbinic Judaism. The call to violence, circulating freely on social media, presents a direct challenge to national cohesion and security.
MURIC's urgent alert underscores the potential for a localized security issue to escalate into a broader communal crisis if not addressed with speed and decisiveness by the relevant security authorities. The organisation's intervention follows its recent public stance in solidarity with the Dangote Refinery during a dispute with oil workers, demonstrating its active role in commenting on national issues affecting Muslim interests.
The coming days will be crucial in determining the response of Nigeria's security apparatus to this explicit incitement to violence. The effectiveness of their action could significantly impact the sense of safety among Igbo Muslims and the overall stability of the South-East region.
