…Accord presidential candidate seeks release of Hausa activist Maisango, highlights reported attacks on 11 villages in Kebbi
Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for greater international attention to Nigeria’s humanitarian and religious freedom challenges, drawing attention to the plight of about 3.68 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) during an engagement with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
During the engagement on Friday, November 6, 2026, Hashim also called for the release of Hausa cultural activist, Maisango, whom he alleged was being unlawfully detained. He further urged the international community to take notice of reports of attacks and the burning of 11 villages in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Hashim acknowledged that Christians in Northern Nigeria face persecution but argued that religious freedom violations in the country should not be viewed solely through the Christian-Muslim divide. He said Muslim minorities, including Shia Muslims, smaller Islamic sects and Hausa communities, also experience discrimination, exclusion and persecution.
According to him, ethnic identity and cultural background can influence how people are treated, even within communities that share the same religious beliefs. He particularly drew attention to what he described as the marginalisation of Hausa Muslims in parts of Northern Nigeria, arguing that some communities face unequal treatment despite practising Islam.
The Accord candidate also raised concerns over the continued detention of Maisango, a Hausa cultural activist. He alleged that the activist had remained in custody without trial despite reportedly being dismissed from his employment with the Department of State Services (DSS).
Calling for Maisango’s immediate release, Hashim stressed the importance of due process, respect for fundamental rights and protection against unlawful detention.
Turning to the country’s humanitarian situation, Hashim cited approximately 3.68 million internally displaced persons, drawing on figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The organisation’s dashboard recorded 3,679,757 IDPs in Nigeria as of October 1, 2026. [Source: UNHCR]
He argued that displacement affects Nigerians across religious and ethnic boundaries and maintained that the experiences of vulnerable Hausa communities should receive greater international recognition.
Hashim specifically highlighted attacks on communities in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, naming Kalkami, Tungar Bori and Kawara among the affected settlements. Reports of attacks in April 2026 documented killings, the burning of buildings and the displacement of residents in the area. He told the commission that 11 villages had reportedly been burnt and called for sustained international attention to the situation. [Sources: Channels Television and Punch]
He alleged that some armed groups operating in the region were not primarily motivated by religious conversion but by the killing of residents, destruction of communities and seizure of territory. He also criticised what he described as the government’s failure to adequately protect vulnerable populations and decisively confront armed groups.
The Accord presidential candidate warned that Nigeria must not allow insecurity and religious freedom concerns to worsen as the country approaches another political transition. He further questioned the level of accountability under the present administration, alleging that political interests had weakened the response to terrorism and other forms of armed violence.
Nigeria’s religious freedom situation has attracted increased international scrutiny. On October 31, 2025, US President Donald Trump designated the country a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. USCIRF had also recommended the designation in its 2026 policy recommendations. [Sources: US Department of State and USCIRF]
Hashim urged the international community to adopt a broader approach that recognises the experiences of Christians, Shia Muslims, Hausa communities and other vulnerable groups. He maintained that protecting religious freedom requires addressing discrimination and ensuring that government institutions fulfil their responsibility to safeguard citizens’ constitutional rights.
He commended USCIRF for its work on religious freedom in Nigeria and acknowledged President Trump’s interest in the issue. Describing religious liberty as fundamental to democracy, Hashim said: “Religious freedom is an intrinsic part of democratic right.”
