MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola Denies Receiving Funding From ISWAP

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Tuesday, said it has no link with any terrorist group in or outside Nigeria.

The director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made this known in a statement in Lagos.

Akintola’s denial came after a former Head of Intelligence of Mali and member of the Sahara Strategy Group, San Lous Keita, recently claimed that available records listed MURIC as one of the groups that have received funding from the terrorist organization.

But reacting, the MURIC director said the group was disciplined and would never be affiliated with any terrorist group.

“Our attention has been drawn to a rumour that MURIC received 200,000 dollars from Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“It is a wicked concoction from the pit of Jahannam. We declare clearly, categorically that we have never had any contact with ISWAP or any other terrorist group.

“We remain committed to the unity and indivissibility of Nigeria,” the organisation director said.

Akintola noted that the allegation was illogical, saying that the group has always condemned every act of terror whether it happened within or outside the country.
“The motto of MURIC is ‘dialogue, not violence’. So how can we descend so low as to collect money from terrorists? Such lies will not fly.

“The terrorists themselves know that we can never support them. How can they give us money? The allegation is dead on arrival.

“We are a disciplined group. We have never been known to engage in any violent protest or attack since establishment of MURIC in 1994.

“It is most diabolical to accuse a group that has pursued peaceful advocacy for 26 years of having any connection with terrorists,” he said.

Akintola appealed to the Federal Government to investigate the source of the information, adding that MURIC has never been involved in any international activity.

“We deliberately restricted ourselves to the Nigerian environment in order to avoid complications.

“We have enough on our hands within the country. So how can a former intelligence chief from far away Mali show interest in us?

“We urge our detractors to desist from their evil ways and pursue the path of honour,” he said.