MURIC says attacks on mosques, churches and schools are driven by “crowd mentality” and ransom motives, not religious hatred.

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned that terrorists in Nigeria are now targeting crowded places rather than attacking people based on religion.

In a statement signed on Sunday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group said terrorists are driven by a “crowd mentality” — the idea that large gatherings offer higher chances of mass casualty or mass kidnapping for ransom.

Akintola explained that terrorists are not specifically hunting Muslims in mosques or Christians in churches. Instead, they focus on places where many people gather, such as worship centres and schools, because this guarantees higher ransom returns and bigger media attention.

He added that just as entertainers prefer large audiences, terrorists also seek crowds to maximise their impact. According to him, this is why attacks rarely occur in empty mosques, churches or schools.

Akintola stressed that this reality disproves claims of targeted religious killings. He argued that understanding the “crowd mentality” approach can help Nigerians stop blaming one another and unite against terrorists who aim to divide the country.

He urged the government, Muslims and Christians to work together to make public places safer, adding that terrorists can be defeated through collective reasoning and smart security strategies.

Source: Independent Newspaper Nigeria