The Muslim community of Ebonyi State is in grief over the passing of Sheikh Ibrahim Iyiorji, who heeded Allah’s call on Sunday evening at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

On Sunday night, he was attacked by Unknown Gunmen at his home in Isu, Onicha L.G.A., Ebonyi State.

The Muslim Voice learnt that Sheikh Iyiorji had two gunshot wounds to the shoulder and stomach, near to the chest.

He was buried on September 6, 2022, in accordance with Islamic rites.

MURIC: Stop Killing Of Muslims In The South East

Alarm has been raised about the ongoing murder of Muslims in the South East by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) . If the killings continue unchecked, MURIC is concerned that Islam may soon become extinct in the area.

This information was released in a statement on September 8, 2022, by Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen, the organization’s chairman in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

The declaration reads:

“Earlier, seven Muslims were killed on Friday, 5th August, 2022 in Orogwe community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State when suspected IPOB members opened fire on them.

“Four Muslims, Rabiu Aminu (45), Abdul Kadir Muktar (33), Aminu Amadu (37) and Rabiu Isaka (30) were shot dead in Umuaka, near Orlu on 4th April, 2021.

“Eleven Muslims were killed in Port Harcourt and Orlu on 20th October, 2020 during the #EndSARS protests. After burning Ehime Mbano Police station, the attackers killed an innocent Muslim by name Abdullahi Ahmadu with his cows at Isieweke Ihite Iboma LGA on 27th April, 2021.

“Five innocent Northern Muslims were also killed at an Hausa settlement near the popular Abraka Market in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, 15th September, 2017. Scores of others were injured. In another attack, an irate IPOB mob attacked the Yoruba Mosque in Umuahia, Abia State. The marauding hoodlums destroyed the mosque, tore copies of the Glorious Qur’an and defecated inside the mosque. Some Yoruba Muslims caught up in the mayhem were manhandled and robbed of their laptops and handsets.

“It is therefore another wicked, malicious and luciferous variation of ‘truth’ for anyone to claim that it is only Christians that are being killed in Nigeria. We call the attention of Western embassies in the country, particularly the United States of America, to the brutish slaughtering of Muslims in the South East.

“Besides targeted killings, places of worship belonging to Muslims are attacked at random. Exempli gratia, two mosques were set ablaze by the Igbo in Enugu on Saturday, 31st October, 2020. The only surviving Islamic School in the South East which is located at Afikpo, Ebonyi State has also received threats of impending invasion. The Orlu Central Mosque was completely destroyed during the #EndSARS riot.

“Many Muslims in Igboland have gone into hiding. Hundreds have fled the region to escape from these heartless killers. The few Igbo Muslims who have elected to hang around continue to live in constant fear, whether at home or on the streets.

“MURIC strongly condemns the continuous, targeted, strategic and methodical killing of Muslims in the South East. It is crystal clear at this stage that the aim of those waging this bloody campaign is to exterminate all vestiges of Islam from the region.

“MURIC appeals to the security agencies in the South East to protect innocent and law abiding Muslims living in the region. We remind the state governors in this area of interest to that the security of lives and properties is the primary business of government at both federal and state levels.

“Apart from the systematic physical elimination of Muslims in the region, Igbo Muslims are treated like second class citizens. They are accused of embracing Hausa religion. Plots of land belonging to Islamic organisations in the South East are commandeered by state governments. They are denied certificates of occupancy. Mosques are demolished at will and Muslim pilgrims boards are unable to operate normally.”

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