By Disu Kamor

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria is deeply disturbed and unequivocally condemns the alarming audio recording circulating on social media, attributed to Mazi Kanayo, which contains explicit and inflammatory calls for violence against Igbo Muslims.

‎The audio – widely disseminated following its translation and circulation on TikTok by a user identified as @ugochukwubesira – allegedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to wage war against fellow Igbos who practise Islam. It reportedly advocates their abduction, brutalization, and elimination, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain. These claims are not only defamatory and malicious but dangerously incendiary.

‎MPAC states without equivocation that such utterances amount to hate speech of the most extreme kind and constitute a direct incitement to violence, criminality, and mass human rights violations. They pose a clear and present danger to public safety and strike at the very heart of Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of life, dignity, freedom of religion, and peaceful coexistence.

‎We are particularly troubled by the explicit and targeted nature of the threats contained in this audio. History – both within and beyond our borders – has repeatedly demonstrated that genocidal rhetoric does not begin with violence; it begins with words left unchecked, unchallenged, and unpunished.

‎Nigeria is a plural and multi-faith society bound together by law, citizenship, and shared humanity. Igbo Muslims are an inseparable part of the Igbo nation and the Nigerian state. Any attempt to erase their identity, delegitimize their faith, or incite violence against them is an assault on justice, national unity, and the moral foundations of our republic.

‎MPAC therefore unequivocally calls on:

‎- The Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and all relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the origin, authenticity, and circulation of this audio, and to ensure that all individuals responsible – directly or indirectly – are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

‎- Security and intelligence agencies to address the nation on this grave national security concern and take proactive preventive measures to forestall any escalation and to guarantee the safety of Igbo Muslims and all communities potentially placed at risk by this rhetoric.

‎- Regulatory authorities and social media platforms to discharge their responsibilities by swiftly curbing the spread of content that promotes hatred, incites violence, or threatens communal harmony.

‎- Political leaders, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities, and opinion shapers, particularly in the South-East, to publicly and unequivocally denounce this call to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence, restraint, and mutual respect.

‎MPAC stresses that freedom of expression is not a license to incite murder, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution. Silence or indifference in the face of such threats only emboldens extremists and accelerates the descent into lawlessness.

‎We urge Nigerians of conscience to reject divisive narratives and resist every attempt to weaponize ethnicity or religion against fellow citizens. The security of one group is inseparable from the security of all.

‎MPAC remains steadfast in its commitment to justice, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental human rights. We will continue to engage relevant authorities and closely monitor developments to ensure that this dangerous rhetoric is confronted decisively – before words translate into irreversible tragedy.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a U.S.-based organization founded in 1997 that focuses on advocacy, civil rights, and public policy affecting Muslim communities. It works to challenge negative stereotypes, educate the public and policymakers about Islam, and promote fair representation of Muslims in media and government. MPAC also supports American Muslims facing discrimination or hate crimes and encourages active civic participation to ensure justice, understanding, and equality.

Source: ‎Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria

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