Islamic Group MURIC Raises Alarm Over US Military Presence in Nigeria
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent Islamic advocacy organization in Nigeria, has formally requested urgent clarifications regarding the presence of American military personnel within Nigerian territory. The group has expressed profound concerns about potential threats to national sovereignty and the safety of Muslim leaders across the country.
Security Cooperation or Sovereignty Threat?
This development follows confirmation from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) that a specialized team of American military personnel has been deployed to Nigeria. According to AFRICOM commander Dagvin Anderson, this deployment occurred at the direct request of President Bola Tinubu's administration and is strictly focused on providing intelligence support for counter-terrorism operations.
Anderson emphasized during a virtual press briefing that the mission remains advisory in nature and aligns with mutual security objectives between both nations. He stated that Nigeria represents a willing and capable ally seeking unique capabilities that only the United States can provide in combating terrorism.
MURIC's Specific Concerns and Demands
In a detailed statement released by its executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described the US troop presence as "an overreach" and expressed alarm about what it termed the "disturbing secrecy" surrounding the deployment arrangements. The organization acknowledged welcoming international cooperation against terrorism but firmly rejected the necessity of having "US boots on ground" within Nigeria.
The Islamic group articulated several specific concerns:
- Potential exacerbation of religious tensions within Nigeria
- Discriminatory focus on protecting only Christian communities
- Threats to the safety and freedom of Muslim leaders
- Compromised national sovereignty through foreign military presence
Historical Context and Religious Persecution Claims
MURIC's statement provided historical context, asserting that Muslims in Southern Nigeria have endured religious persecution from Christian communities for decades, if not centuries. The organization criticized what it perceives as selective American intervention, arguing that terrorism and insecurity affect all Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation.
The group stated emphatically: "We assert that there is nothing like Christian genocide in Nigeria. What we have is terrorism, insecurity and religious persecution on both sides of Christians and Muslims, and what we lack is religious tolerance."
Recent Military Operations and Ongoing Tensions
This controversy emerges against the backdrop of recent joint military operations between US and Nigerian forces. On December 25, 2025, coordinated strike operations were conducted across multiple locations in Sokoto State, targeting militant groups. These operations have drawn attention to the deepening security partnership between the two nations.
MURIC has issued clear demands to Nigerian authorities:
- Complete transparency regarding the terms and scope of US military presence
- Assurances that Muslim religious activities will not face restrictions
- Guarantees that Muslim leaders will not face disappearance or assassination
- Commitment to balanced protection for all religious communities
Broader Implications for Nigeria-US Relations
The organization framed its concerns within broader principles of international relations and religious freedom, stating: "If the US should promote democratic principles of freedom of religion in Nigeria at all, it has a moral duty not to be selective but to promote freedom for both Christians and Muslims who are in captivity. There should be no selective solutions to religious persecution anywhere in the world."
This development occurs simultaneously with other Nigeria-US security developments, including American plans to deport numerous Nigerians convicted of serious crimes. The intersection of these issues highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of bilateral relations between the two countries.
As security challenges continue under President Tinubu's administration, the presence of foreign military personnel remains a sensitive subject that touches on fundamental questions of national sovereignty, religious balance, and international partnership dynamics.
