From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Mangu youths, under the aegis of the Mwaghavul Youths Movement (MYM) has described the threat by the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) led by Prof Ishaq Akintola to cause mayhem if a mosque allegedly converted to a market was not rebuilt as attempts to throw Mangu into a religious war.
Media Secretary, Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Tubwot Joel Sunday, in reaction to MURIC’s demand in a statement in Jos on Friday described it as criminal, senseless, barbaric, and unbecoming of an organisation led by a professor.
MURIC had in a press statement issued on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and signed by the Founder and Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, asked the local authorities to rebuild the Bungha Juma’at Mosque in Mangu Local Government, which was converted into a market place after its destruction by ‘Christian Militias’
However MYM, in their own statement, entitled, Re: Rebuild, Return Mosque Converted to Market – Is Muric Not A Terrorist Organization?, said that MURIC’s position did not reflect the realities on the ground.
According to them, in the first place the place was originally a market Square where Muslims who come to market gather to praybsnd trading activities have continued till date.
Secondly the the youths said that there is no ‘Christian Militia’ in Mangu and thirdly attempts to blame the youths for the destruction of the mosque meant that they blame Christians on the Plateau for the endless violence in the state.
MYM said moreover the place is an unfenced ground.
The statement said, “The leadership of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement is saddened by the press statement issued on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, by the Founder and Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, a supposed father, grandfather, and religious leader.
“The statement exemplifies the “10th Warning Sign of a Very Bad Professor” (Jeremy S. Hyman and Lynn F. Jacobs, January 6, 2010). Prof. Ishaq Akintola has once again demonstrated that he is a professor who only focuses on his notes, never engaging with his students or considering their questions, submissions, or suggestions.
“In this case, the members of Muslim Rights Concern, led by Prof. Ishaq, are the students, including good Muslims who would have advised him to choose his words carefully regarding the realities in Mangu LGA, Plateau State.
“Prof. Ishaq’s claim that the District Authority facilitated the conversion of the Bungha Juma’at Mosque in Mangu Local Government into a market place after its destruction by Christian Militias is impossible.
“This could not have happened in Mangu or anywhere else in the country. A closer analysis of MURIC’s statement suggests that they blame Christians on the Plateau for the endless violence in the state.
“However, there is no group known or operating as ‘Christian Militias’ in Mangu LGA, and neither the Mwaghavul Youth nor the Christian Community has been associated with violence.
“MURIC’s claim about the mosque converted to a market in Bungha, Mangu LGA, is misleading and devilish. It reveals the hidden tenets of the organization. Their position does not represent the true narrative behind the religious crises in the LGA. Instead, they quickly defend their faith, ignoring the danger such stories pose.
“As we have previously stated, over 40 churches belonging to different Christian denominations have been destroyed and desecrated by the faceless Mangu Concern Muslim Consultative Forum, believed to be members of Prof. Ishaq Akintola’s organization/faith since last year. MURIC’s demand for the immediate rebuilding of the mosque and their threat of a religious war if refused is criminal, senseless, barbaric, and unbecoming of a professor.
“The Mangu Market, located in a Muslim dominated community till this Friday morning, remains unsafe for the Christians because of the recent religious crises, hence resorting to transacting thier businesses at the Bungha market. If MURIC must forget anything, it shouldn’t be the fact that the Christian Community in Mangu are also humans and alive to feeling the excruciating pains her members have caused the Christians.
“It is verifiable that most Christians in the Muslim-dominated parts of the community were killed, displaced, or had their houses burnt or occupied by members of Muslim Rights Concern during the religious crises in Mangu town. The destroyed churches remain inaccessible, and the mosque’s premise is being used. It is unfortunate that while efforts are being made to return peace to Mangu, a locality known for peaceful coexistence, MURIC and its partners in fueling violence seek to truncate these efforts.
“We wonder why a religious organization like MURIC, led by a professor, would take sides and cast aspersions on Christians without researching and being truthful about the root cause of the disturbance.
“While we call on the Nigerian Government to investigate MURIC’s activities and Prof. Akintola’s public engagements, we appeal to every member of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement and all our sympathizers both within and outside Mangu LGA to remain calm, peaceful, and equally stand firm in the defense of the sanctity and integrity of our culture and tradition.”
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