The chairman of the Ebonyi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abas Egwu, has said there is the need for Hausa and Yoruba Muslims to recognize indigenous Igbo Muslims as equally genuine and committed adherents of Islam despite their small population and, therefore, give them robust support in the area of da’wah.

Egwu stated this in Abakaliki when he received the National Organising Secretary of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS), Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani, who visited ADS members in the state.

According to Egwu, it is imperative for the Muslims in other parts of the country to help in the areas of establishment of Arabic and Islamic schools and building of mosques for ease of practice of Islam and the propagation of the religion in the eastern part of the country.

He commended what he called the fairness and impartiality of the state government towards Islam and Muslims, describing Ebonyi as the only state in eastern Nigeria which has a Muslim pilgrims board that is independent of the Christian board.

Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani said he was in the state to meet members of the Abakaliki branch of the ADS to rub minds with them on the fortune of the organisation.