The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, over alleged hate speech and incitement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission made the demand on Tuesday in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN.
The NHRC said it was deeply concerned about what it described as the hateful and inciting remarks allegedly made by Jingir in a viral video on Sunday.
According to the commission, the cleric appeared to support religiously exclusive politics and used the word “infidels” while asking his supporters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to show their limits.
The NHRC said such comments could threaten Nigeria’s constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination and peaceful coexistence.
The commission described the alleged remarks as hate speech and incitement to religious hatred, warning that they could lead to violence during the 2027 election period.
“The Commission finds these remarks to be hate speech and incitement to religious hatred and potential violence. At a time when we are preparing for another general election, such utterances are reckless and dangerous,” it said.
It added: “They serve no purpose other than to divide Nigerians along religious lines and set citizens against one another.”
The NHRC warned that ignoring such statements could encourage other religious leaders and influential figures to make similar comments.
“We cannot afford to look away. If we fail to speak and act now, we embolden both Christian and Muslim clerics and other influential persons to make worse statements in the coming months. That path leads only to crisis,” the commission stated.
It therefore asked the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services and other relevant agencies to arrest and prosecute Jingir over the alleged offences.
The NHRC also urged religious leaders, traditional rulers and politicians to avoid inflammatory statements.
It called on Nigerians to reject identity-based politics and assess political leaders based on competence, performance, service delivery and respect for human rights.
The commission further said prosecution should be carried out regardless of the person’s status or political affiliation.
“Prosecution must proceed irrespective of status or political affiliation in order to serve as a deterrent to others who may seek to exploit religion for political gain during this election period,” it said.
The NHRC added that it would continue monitoring the situation and work with security agencies, INEC and civil society organisations to help ensure that the 2027 elections are free from hate and violence.
