A civil society group, Vanguard for the Voice of Reasoning, has strongly condemned the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for what it described as “baseless and inflammatory” accusations against Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.

 

MURIC, through its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, had alleged that Governor Mutfwang’s supposed call for the withdrawal of military troops from crisis-prone areas in Plateau State was a deliberate plot to target Muslims and Fulani communities. The group accused the governor of intending to replace soldiers with mobile policemen to carry out what it termed a genocidal agenda.

 

Reacting in a statement signed on Friday by its chairman, James Buba, the Vanguard for the Voice of Reasoning expressed disappointment over what it called “deliberate falsehood and incitement,” accusing MURIC of stoking ethno-religious tensions in an already volatile environment.

 

Buba clarified that Governor Mutfwang never called for a blanket removal of soldiers from any part of the state. Instead, the governor has consistently advocated for synergy among all security agencies—military, police, civil defense, and local vigilantes—to address the complex security challenges in Plateau State.

 

He accused Prof. Akintola of peddling false narratives and ignoring the actual victims of violence in the state, particularly the atrocities committed by Fulani militias against innocent citizens.

 

Referencing the governor’s visit to Jebbu Bindi community where 27 people were killed, Buba noted that Mutfwang had called for calm, professionalism among security forces, and justice—not revenge or exclusion of any group.

 

He further highlighted the governor’s inclusive governance style, noting that the Muslim community in Plateau has continued to enjoy respectful engagement under the Mutfwang administration. The governor has:

 

Appointed Muslims into key positions of authority

 

Sponsored Muslim faithful on Hajj pilgrimages in 2023, 2024, and 2025

 

Invested in infrastructure and public services in Muslim-majority communities

 

Maintained open dialogue with Muslim leaders for peaceful coexistence

 

 

Buba described MURIC’s claims as “malicious, divisive, and unjustifiable,” especially condemning Prof. Akintola’s remarks that labeled Plateau women as collaborators in violence. He called those comments “sexist, crude, and unworthy of a scholar.”

 

The group urged MURIC to promote religious advocacy based on truth and peace rather than propaganda fueled by “bitterness and prejudice.”

 

“MURIC’s statement is a shameful attempt to derail the peacebuilding efforts of Governor Mutfwang’s administration and sow seeds of discord where unity is needed most,” Buba concluded.