For calling Nigerian Christians infidels, the National Human Rights Commission has called for the arrest and prosecution of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, for making an inflammatory religious comment.
The commission made the call as the viral video where the cleric made comment continue to elicit sharp condemnation across the country.
The Islamic cleric made the remark on Monday during a political event organized by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Kano state. The state governor, Kabiru Yusuf was in attendance.
In it’s reaction, the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has condemned the cleric accusing him of trying to cause religious crisis in the country.
Some notable Muslim leaders have also condemned the cleric, saying his view did not represent the larger Muslim community in Nigeria
Having watched the viral video, the MN HRC said it considers the cleric comment very distasteful, capable of fuelling religious tension.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, the NHRC said it watched the video with “grave concern”, accusing the cleric of promoting religiously exclusive politics and using derogatory language against people he allegedly described as “infidels”.
The commission said Jingir also urged his supporters to obtain their voter cards and use them to demonstrate their political strength ahead of the elections.
For the NHRC, such rhetoric goes beyond political campaigning. It said the remarks amounted to hate speech and incitement to religious hatred, with the potential to trigger violence.
The commission stressed that the inflammatory statements from influential religious and political figures could deepen Nigeria’s existing religious divisions as the 2027 elections approach.
It further argued that failure to respond firmly to such statements could embolden other influential figures—both Christian and Muslim—to engage in increasingly provocative rhetoric.
“We cannot afford to look away,” the commission warned, stressing that allowing such conduct to continue could push the country towards avoidable crisis.
The NHRC consequently called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to take immediate action against Jingir.
No One Should Be Above the Law
Beyond the immediate case, the commission urged religious leaders, traditional rulers and politicians to exercise restraint and avoid statements capable of setting Nigerians against one another.
It also called on citizens to reject identity-based politics and judge political leaders on competence, performance, service delivery and respect for human rights.
The commission insisted that any prosecution arising from the alleged remarks must be pursued regardless of the suspect’s political status or affiliation.
Such action, it said, would send a strong message to anyone seeking to exploit religion for political gain during the election period.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
