The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has condemned an audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Igbo Muslims, urging law enforcement agencies to investigate and take swift action.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, MPAC described the audio, attributed to an individual identified as Mazi Kanayo, as dangerous hate speech that threatens public safety and Nigeria’s constitutional protections. The recording reportedly gained wider circulation after being translated and shared on TikTok by a user identified as @ugochukwubesira.
According to MPAC, the content of the audio includes inflammatory statements targeting members of the Igbo ethnic group who practise Islam, portraying them as traitors and encouraging hostility against them. The organisation said such claims are defamatory and risk inciting violence and communal unrest.
MPAC warned that unchecked rhetoric of this nature poses a serious threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-faith society. It stressed that Igbo Muslims are an integral part of both the Igbo community and the Nigerian state, and that any attempt to marginalise or threaten them undermines the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
The organisation called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to investigate the origin and spread of the audio and to prosecute anyone found responsible in accordance with the law. It also urged security agencies to take preventive measures to ensure the safety of communities that could be affected by the rhetoric.
MPAC further appealed to regulatory authorities and social media platforms to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or violence. It called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities, and community leaders particularly in the South-East to publicly denounce the alleged incitement and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence.
While affirming the importance of freedom of expression, MPAC noted that such freedom does not extend to speech that encourages violence or persecution. The group urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and resist efforts to exploit ethnicity or religion for conflict.
MPAC said it would continue to engage with relevant authorities and monitor developments to ensure the matter is addressed promptly and decisively.