Exclusive: BBC Yoruba faces backlash over alleged neglect following Iseyin Eid Day blo0dy attacks on Niqabi Muslim women, husband
The BBC Yoruba service has come under fire from Muslims in Southwest Nigeria for its alleged failure to report a violent attack on a veiled pregnant woman and her husband in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Salah day, June 16, 2024.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing the media outlet of deliberate silence and bias.
Critics argue that if the bloody events were reversed, the BBC Yoruba would have extensively covered the story, highlighting the perceived double standard.
The Muslim community in the region feels marginalised and ignored, demanding equal coverage and fair representation. The controversy has sparked a larger debate about media responsibility and balance in reporting.
A Facebook user Waliyullah Akinyode Book Man said: “BBC News Yoruba don’t have time to air information concerning Ìséyìn matter but have time to talk about those that died in Hajj??”
On his part, Yuusuf Adeyemi Salau stressed that “If it had been the other way, they would have been the first to break the news.”
Abdulwasiu Horlawunmi also reiterated what he called deliberate neglect as he demanded immediate actions.
Other media outlets such as Vanguard News, AlaroyeTv, Alaroye News, Punch Newspapers, and Legit.ng also came under the hammer of the enraged netizens who demanded commitment to fairness and balanced journalism.
The BBC Yoruba has not responded to the allegations or published an exclusive report on the incident as of the time of this report.
Recall that on Sunday, June 16, chaos and fear gripped Oke Imuse, Iseyin, Oyo State, as soldiers allegedly hired by Pastor Busari Stephen of Christ Apostolic Church launched a brutal attack on a Muslim family. Abdul Azeez Sulaiman, and his two wives, Nafeesah Imran and Ajarat Razaq, who were on face veils (Niqab), were violently assaulted with dangerous weapons at their home in Olobide Villa, shortly after they returned from Eid-Al-Adha prayers. The attack was led by the Pastor’s son, Damilola Stephen, leaving the family traumatised and the community in shock.
The brutal attack on a Muslim family in Iseyin, Oyo State, has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with Muslim organisations, human rights groups, and individuals vehemently condemning the violence.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) denounced the attack as “unjust, callous, and inhuman” and urged the Nigerian Army to identify and bring to justice the 20 soldiers involved in the assault on innocent citizens, stressing that such brutality has no place in a society that values human life and dignity.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Oyo State has taken disciplinary action against the pastor and church responsible for the vicious attack on a Muslim family in Iseyin. Apostle Sunday Ogundairo, CAN chairman in Iseyin Local Government Area, revealed to Daily Trust that the organisation has apologised to Muslim leaders in the town and condemned the pastor’s actions.
