MURIC Accuses Media Of Ignoring Muslim Voices In ‘Christian Genocide’ Debate

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Nigerian media organisations of sidelining Islamic scholars and Muslim perspectives in the ongoing public discourse on the alleged Christian genocide in the country.

In a statement released on Saturday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said both print and broadcast outlets have “excluded Islamic scholars in particular and Nigerian Muslims in general” from the discussion, which he described as biased and unprofessional.

He stated, “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?”

According to Akintola, the media, “except for very few, has drifted away from balance, fairness and professionalism,” arguing that Muslims were consistently portrayed negatively without being given the opportunity to present their side.

In an article titled CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE: WHEN WILL THE PRESS HEAR FROM THE MUSLIMS? – MURIC, the organisation criticised media platforms for alleged selective exposure and one-sided reporting.

“We are constrained to call attention to the way and manner the ongoing debate on the imaginary Christian genocide is being handled by the Nigerian media. We note with grave concern how both the print and electronic media have excluded Islamic scholars in particular and Nigerian Muslims in general,” Akintola said.

He further alleged that Christian clerics were frequently granted “unlimited opportunities” on media platforms to level accusations, while Muslims referenced in such narratives were rarely invited to respond.

“A good example was the interview granted by News Central to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo on or around 10th November 2025, where he spoke about the alleged Christian genocide. To the best of our knowledge, the station has not deemed it fit to invite any Muslim scholar from the same area to respond to the allegations. Is this fair?

“Meanwhile, Muslims from Dachomo’s area, under the aegis of the Mangu Concerned Muslim Consultative Forum (MCMCF), have issued a response disputing his claims. They alleged that Christians in the North Central region have engaged in systematic violence against Muslims over the past 25 years,” he added.

Akintola accused media organisations of failing to maintain balance and calm rising tensions, saying, “Television and radio stations, including newspapers, must find a way of dousing cyber tension. Litigations may not leave out media houses found to have been negligent or corroborative in public incitement.”

He also expressed concern over declining journalistic standards, “The public only hears one side of the story because it is those who allege alone that are invited. What of the Muslim side? Are there no Muslims in this country? Are there no Islamic scholars who can be invited to air their own views?”

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

The group also accused the media of “programming Nigerians to hate Muslims,” warning that biased coverage could trigger unrest.

“The Nigerian press is poisoning the minds of the general public… against Islam and its followers. This is very dangerous because we all know that incitement can lead to riots.”

MURIC called on regulatory bodies, including the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigerian Press Council, and Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, to ensure balanced reportage.

“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, noting that any discussion that excludes Muslim voices “is not a national conversation.”