The controversy surrounding women wearing head covers in Nigeria has revealed much about the attitude of the Nigerian News Editorial Stance particularly in crime reporting. Nigeria’s bias reportage on the usage of Hijab in headline with stereotypical evidences is very saddened in recent times, especially as the government security agencies are trying to fight the menace of insecurity in the country.

The Muslim Voice findings reveal that the Hijab is predominantly reported on through the polarized lens while reporting crimes related matter in the Nigeria society of today. As new events will continue to unfold every day, recently, one of Nigerian prominent news outlets, Premium Times, published a gross bigotry headline about Hijab in relation to a criminal case which occurred last week when the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, paraded 11 kidnap suspects, including two women, according to the report.

Our content analysis of the report indicates that the headline, “How hijab-wearing women smuggled guns to kidnappers – Police” merely correlate with the content of the story dated October 9, 2021 by the media house. However, looking at the picture above which contains the headline and some details about the report. It’s been clearly justified that the details (The suspect says wearing military uniforms make their operations more effective) is not in line with the headline (How hijab-wearing women smuggled guns to kidnappers – Police). Therefore, this is unjustifiable and purposely done to get peoples attention. This narrative is inequitable, unfair and unjustified.

Furthermore, it is must be noted that, only once the word “Hijab” appeared in the whole story, quoting the police spokesperson in Premium Times report, “Mr Mba said the female suspects exploit their gender, mode of dressing (hijab-wearing), and the innocence naturally associated with womanhood, to commit crime”, this is evident that the news editor is trying to play bigot with the sacred religion “Islam” and our Hijab wearing-women. Hijab here should not be part of the central idea of this story. Thus, it is provocative.

In a polarized setting such as Nigeria with more than 1150 dialects and ethnic groups, where significant mobility of her citizens of numerous ethnic and religious backgrounds reside in territories in Nigeria that are outside their ethnic or religious background, resulting in the mixing of the various ethnic and religious groups, therefore promoting Islamophobic statements and sentiments will continue to raise concern.

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Poor reportage and misconception of Hijab by publishers in this situation has portrayed Islam in a negative way, blackmailing Islam, our religion, our way of life. Islam, however, is a religion that not only hold tenaciously to peace, but also preaches peace and live in peace with other religions. Therefore, there is a need for people to desist from seeing Islam in a negative perception. Hijab is a veil worn by Muslim women. Critics of the Muslim veiling tradition argue that women do not wear the veil by choice, and they are often forced to cover their heads and bodies. In contrast, we argue that the veil symbolizes devotion and piety and that veiling is their own choice. To us it is a question of religious identity and self-expression. However, the Qur’an invites both men and women to behave with “decency” and “Integrity”, both physically and morally.

Meanwhile, notable organizations such as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Muslim Public Affairs Centre, (MPAC) Nigeria and the Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative are the leading Muslim groups in Nigeria that are educating and advocating for Hijab rights in within our society, should be encouraged, appreciated and supported by the Muslim populace. Readers should know that, the editorial opinions published by the Nigerian media outlets on issues that affect Muslims receive less-than-favourable coverage within mainstream media. This ultimately has implications on how Islam and Muslims are construed within society. Expert says, Muslims must work to neutralize pejorative media narratives on Islam through increasing exposure in mass media and working towards eliminating biased representations of Islam and its values.

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