NHRC Demands Arrest Of Cleric Over Hate Speech

The National Human Rights Commission is pushing for the NHRC Jingir hate speech arrest of Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, accusing him of inciting religious division ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by Executive Secretary Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, the commission said it reviewed a widely circulated video from a Sunday event in which Jingir referred to non-Muslims as "infidels" while urging his followers to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards to "show their limit."

According to reports, the remarks came at a gathering in Kano organized by Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah, where Jingir was defending the Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of 2027, arguing that Muslims should not apologize for backing candidates who share their faith given their population and influence. The event was reportedly attended by the governors of Kano and Jigawa states, neither of whom has publicly distanced themselves from the comments.

The commission said the remarks amount to a direct attempt to mobilize citizens along religious lines, and warned they threaten Nigeria's constitutional guarantees of equality, non-discrimination, and peaceful coexistence.

"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," the statement said.

It added a blunt assessment of the comments' purpose.

"They serve no purpose other than to divide Nigerians along religious lines and set citizens against one another," the NHRC said.

The commission argued that letting the remarks go unanswered could embolden others to make even more inflammatory statements as the election approaches.

"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 statement read.

The NHRC formally called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and other relevant agencies to arrest and prosecute Jingir. It is important to note that this is a demand from the commission, not a court ruling, and Jingir has not been convicted of any offense.

The commission was explicit that any prosecution should apply equally regardless of who is involved.

"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.

Beyond this specific case, the NHRC urged lawmakers, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to avoid divisive rhetoric altogether, and called on Nigerians to reject identity-based politics in favor of judging leaders on competence, service delivery, and respect for human rights.

The commission said it would continue monitoring the situation in partnership with INEC, security agencies, and civil society groups to help prevent violence or hate-driven unrest in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

The comments have also drawn sharp criticism from media commentators and religious leaders. Rev. Joseph John Hayab, chairman of the Northern Christian Association, said the remarks confirmed concerns Christians in the North have raised for years about marginalization. As of this report, no public response from Jingir himself has been made available.