Hawzah News Agency – 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 Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to change their states of origin and local government areas before they can register to see a doctor.

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the matter. The organisation described the forceful change of states of origin as ethnic cleansing and unlawful de-indigenisation. MURIC demanded a probe into the allegation.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday, 20th March, 2022 by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The 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.

“There is no doubt that the state government is complicit and should be held responsible. It is impossible that this highly reprehensible practice is happening without the knowledge and tacit approval of the state government. It is a big shame that this kind of illegality is being promoted by a state governor who swore to uphold the constitution and to provide welfare services to people of the state. Conscienceless power is subjugating powerless conscience.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).