The Daily Trust, an influential newspaper, published a damning report yesterday on discrimination against Hausa-Fulani Muslims in Jos, Plateau State, who are being forced to change their states of origin and local government areas by record officers at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) before they can register to see a doctor.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organization, has entered the fray. Ethnic cleansing and unlawful de-indigenisation were terms used by the organization to characterize the forcible change of states of origin. MURIC urged that the allegation be investigated.
This was stated in a press statement made by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the director of MURIC, on Sunday, March 20, 2022.
Read the full statement reads :
“An influential newspaper, the Daily Trust, yesterday published a damning report on discrimination against Hausa-Fulani Muslims resident in Jos, Plateau State, who are being forced by record officers at the General Out-Patient Department (GOPD) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to change their states of origin and local government areas before they can register to see a doctor (https://dailytrust.com/investigation-how-juth-denies-hausa-fulani-treatment-for-claiming-plateau-state).
“This, indubitably, is ethnic cleansing and unlawful de-indigenisation. It is horrendous, detestable and despicable. It is the most odious and insidious marginalization and encroachment on Allah-given fundamental human rights of any tribe that ever happened on Nigerian soil. It is unlawful, illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional. We therefore demand full investigation which should start with immediate effect.
“It is highly appalling. We cannot imagine such inhuman practice happening to Nigerian citizens in a Nigerian state. Such audacity is criminal. There must be consequences for such temerity for the culprits, their sponsors and those who are encouraging them.
“The probe should unearth the identities of all the victims from the time the evil practice started with a view to reversing the wicked acts and restoring the states of origin and local governments of the victims.
“We are shocked that such a discriminatory practice is being allowed in a federally funded hospital where people’s state of origin should not matter at all, particularly for health care delivery. It points to the likelihood of more egregious and horrifying things happening in hospitals belonging to the Plateau state government.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
