Concerned Muslims Demand Probe into Sahara Reporters and InterSociety Over Inflammatory Report

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By Idris Muhammed Abdullahi AIM

On behalf of millions of peace-loving Muslims across Nigeria, I write to firmly condemn the recent article published by Sahara Reporters, which referenced a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety). The article irresponsibly claimed that “Jihadist Fulani herdsmen” are responsible for 80% of killings in the South-East. Such an inflammatory narrative—anchored on weak evidence and ethnic profiling—poses grave risks to our national peace and unity.

• Reckless Generalizations and Stereotyping

Branding an entire ethnic or religious group as “jihadist” without credible evidence is dangerous. Muslims across Nigeria have long coexisted peacefully with people of other faiths and ethnic backgrounds. Stoking religious and ethnic tension through careless reporting is both unjust and unacceptable.

• Tinubu Once Asked, “Where Are the Cows?”

Even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2019, pushed back against this same kind of ethnic scapegoating. After the tragic killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader Reuben Fasoranti, Tinubu responded to claims that Fulani herdsmen were to blame by asking, “Where are the cows?” He challenged the baseless attribution of the crime to herdsmen, pointing out that kidnapping had become a nationwide menace with multiple actors—including “copycats.” He even referenced the notorious kidnapper, Evans, asking, “Was Evans a herdsman?”

This historical reference is crucial. It reminds us that Nigeria’s security challenges are not the exclusive domain of any ethnic or religious group. To cherry-pick headlines and paint a whole people with one brush is not only reckless but also deeply dishonest.

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• Lack of Methodological Integrity

What data and criteria did InterSociety use to classify perpetrators? How were victims linked to “jihadist herdsmen”? Without clear answers, this report cannot stand as a credible source. We call on the National Security Adviser (NSA) to summon the leadership of InterSociety to explain the methodology used, considering the sensitive nature of these allegations.

• Threats to National Security and Cohesion

Such publications fuel division, stoke fear, and may provoke retaliatory violence. Nigeria cannot afford misinformation masked as research. The South-East, like other parts of the country, is facing complex security challenges—from secessionist violence to armed criminality. Reducing this to a simplistic ethnic blame game only delays real solutions.

• Our Demands and Call to Action

• • We call on the NSA to investigate the sources, intent, and methodology of this inflammatory report.
  • We urge the Nigerian Press Council and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to review Sahara Reporters’ role in disseminating such dangerous content.
  • We appeal to religious leaders, civil society, and opinion leaders to rise against this growing trend of weaponized misinformation.
  • We demand that security forces avoid ethnic profiling and remain unbiased in addressing violence across regions.
• Final Words

Muslims, like all Nigerians, are victims of insecurity. We do not support or shield criminals. But we will not allow our faith or ethnicity to be smeared by narratives lacking integrity. As President Tinubu implied back in 2019, not every criminal wears a turban or leads cattle.

Let truth—not tribalism—shape our national conversation. Let peace—not propaganda—lead the way forward.

Signed,
Idris Muhammed Abdullahi AIM ©
A Concerned Muslim Citizen for Peace, Justice, and National Unity
April 5, 2025