IGP’s latest order against us needless, we’re no threat to Nigeria —IMN

Reacting to the fresh order by the Inspector-General of Police, Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have vowed to continue with their protest to demand for the release of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

IGP Mohammed Adamu, at the weekend, ordered all police formations nationwide to commence the immediate arrest of all identified leaders of the outlawed IMN and dismantle their structures across the states.

The directive was contained in a signal from the Force Headquarters to all State Police Commands and Zonal Headquarters dated August 30, 2019, which directed immediate strict compliance.

IMN, speaking through a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, said the IGP’s order was dead on arrival and could not stand.

IMN noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had cultivated the habit of denying them space to conduct their religious activities at the commencement of the first month of the Islamic calendar (Muharram) when all Shi’ites are expected to converge.

READ ALSO: More trouble for Shi’ites as IGP orders arrest of leaders, demolition of structures

Musa said that the latest order by the police had confirmed that the government was bent on scuttling this year’s Muharram religious mourning obligations.

The statement reads, “It is on record that the Buhari administration since its inception in 2015, has always used the commencement of the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, to persecute, kill and maim us and deny us any space to conduct our religious rites expected of all Shi’ites.

“This recent order given on the eve of Muharram underlines the evil intention of the government to continue this pattern of attack against Shia Islam and prevent us from conducting our religious obligation.”

IMN also asked the Federal Government to concern itself with tackling the mounting security problems rocking the nation, saying the sect’s demand for the freedom of its detained leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, was not Nigeria’s major challenge.

“The Sheikh Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement is not a security threat to Nigeria and Nigerians and has never ever been. Certainly, none of our religious rites, including the Ashura mourning sessions and its associated mourning procession or the mould procession for which members of the Islamic Movement are well known for, can be of any threat to the nation,” it said.

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