Group raises alarm over alleged audio inciting violence against Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, Nigeria, has raised concerns over an audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly incites violence against Igbo Muslims, calling on security agencies to urgently investigate the matter.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the organisation described the audio, attributed to an individual identified as Mazi Kanayo, as hate speech capable of endangering public safety and undermining constitutional rights.
MPAC said the recording gained wider attention after it was translated and shared on TikTok by a user known as @ugochukwubesira.

The organisation alleged that the audio contains inflammatory remarks directed at Igbo Muslims, accusing them of betrayal and encouraging hostility against them. It said such rhetoric is defamatory and could trigger violence and communal tension if left unaddressed.
“Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious composition makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of unchecked hate speech,” the statement read.

It emphasised that Igbo Muslims are an integral part of the Igbo ethnic group and the Nigerian nation, adding that any attempt to intimidate or marginalise them threatens national unity and fundamental human rights.
“We urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and other relevant agencies to probe the origin and circulation of the audio and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law,” the organisation said.
It also called for proactive measures to protect communities that may be exposed to risk as a result of the alleged incitement.MPAC further appealed to regulatory bodies and social media platforms to take steps to limit the spread of content that promotes hatred or violence.It also called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, and community leaders—especially in the South-East—to publicly condemn the alleged call to violence and promote peaceful coexistence.

While reaffirming its support for freedom of expression, MPAC stressed that such freedom does not include the right to incite violence or persecution.The organisation urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and resist attempts to exploit ethnic or religious differences for conflict.
MPAC said it would continue to engage relevant authorities and closely monitor developments to ensure the issue is addressed without delay.