Adamawa State chapter of the Muslims Council of Nigeria has alleged the prevention of Muslims from taking part in the ongoing voter registration exercise in some communities.
Speaking to journalists after an emergency meeting with executives from 21 LGAs in Yola, yesterday, the council chairman, Malam Gambo Jika said such intimidation was prevalent in communities where Muslims were in the minority.
According to him, the council uncovered a plot where vigilante members and bigoted individuals intimidated Muslim residents to deny them participation in the recent local council elections and the current voter registration exercise.
“We the Muslim Council of Adamawa state summoned this meeting purposely to discuss and proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing us in the state and Nigeria as a whole, especially on the ongoing voter registration which has been turned into war.
“There are many places in the state where Muslims are not allowed to go and vote even after being registered. In some cases, unpatriotic vigilante groups are used to harass our people not to go polling centers in their communities.
“We call on security agencies, traditional leaders, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure people are allowed to cast their votes or register without any molestation,” Jika stated.
Jika, therefore, called on the state government and security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities to protect the right of the affected population before the situation degenerate into crisis.
Contacted the Adamawa Police command spokesman, S.P. Suleiman Nguroje said he was unaware of the development, promising to contact out reporter as soon as he made his findings.
