The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised the federal government to engage in dialogue, wider consultation, and apply caution in handling the “fragile situation” in Oyo State.
It also cautioned South-West leaders to desist from any act that could put the lives and properties of millions of Yorubas living in the northern region of the country in danger.
MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said this in a statement on Sunday.
Some Yoruba activists, led by Sunday Igboho, last week issued a quit notice to the Hausa-Fulani in Igangan community in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, and attacked Fulani communities after the ultimatum elapsed on Friday, leading to death of not fewer than three people.
MURIC, which is an indigenous Islamic human right organisation, said the Igangan incident must be condemned by all lovers of peace, but the government should not close its eyes to the pain and suffering of farmers and indigenes of the affected areas whom criminals see as soft targets for kidnapping and robbery.
“It is, however, crystal clear that it is not a religious matter, though some have been misled into labeling it a Hausa-Fulani affair. Our focus must be the criminals, not any tribe,” MURIC said.
