The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has issued a strong warning to the Kaduna state Police Command for describing the group as a ‘Shiite militia’.
The movement’s reaction is coming shortly after Kaduna Police Commissioner, Mr Umar Muri made the comment during a recent press conference.
In a press statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by the President Media Forum of the Movement, Ibrahim Musa, the group described the development as a “mischievous and deliberate attempt at blackmail to not only mention the Islamic Movement in a row of renown crimes, but to also insinuate that it is a militia, a false accusation the Kaduna state government had failed to prove before the State High Court despite all efforts.”
“Part of the statement by the Commissioner reads as follows: I am delighted to inform you that the command in the last few weeks, in its numerous tasks of securing lives and property of law abiding citizens of Kaduna state has succeeded in arresting one hundred and fifty-seven suspects for various crimes which include Armed Banditry, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling, Culpable Homicide, Rape, Shop Breaking, Looting of Government Private Warehouses, Theft, Shi’ite (IMN) militias to mention but a few.”
“It is pertinent for the peaceful Islamic Movement engaged in purely religious activities to condemn such act of falsehood of branding it as criminal and also insinuating that it is a militia. Lest the police commissioner forgets, the meaning of a militia is a military force that is raised from the civil population to engage in rebel or terrorist activities in opposition to a regular army.”
“In this wise, it is worth educating him to set the record straight that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the revered leadership of Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is a religious Movement aiming to establish Devine guidance and salvage the souls of people and not to kill them. The Movement uses knowledge and logic and does not need or use arms in achieving its lofty goals. So it is a deliberate mischief to label it as a militia.” the statement read in part.
