By – Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. President Tinubu and the need to handle the IMN plus police clash with caution to avoid the emergency of a new uprising.
Going by different security challenges faced by Nigeria, there is need for caution from both government and citizens to avoid creating another wave of unrest as the recent clash between members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria -IMN also known as Shi’ites during their final Ashura procession which took place on Monday 26th of August 2024 in the Nigeria’s Capital Abuja is capable of degenerating into serious security threat.
The recent clash is a source of concern as Nigeria battles with different form of insurgency, ranging from Kidnapping for ransom,banditry ,Boko -Haram and farmers harders clash.The incident came when members of the Islamic group where commemorating ,the arbaeen ;the last day out of four days that symbolizes the mighty Dom of Husain , a he grandson of Prophet Muhammad
The event is an annual ritual observed by Shiates worldwide and in Nigeria IMN has been conducting it for more than thirty years.
The FCT police Shiites clash
The bloody confrontation that took place in the Wuse district of the Federal Capital Territory between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria -IMN also known as Shi’ites led to two policemen being killed while many lives of the IMN members lost and various degrees of injuries sustained.
The violent confrontation, which degenerated into a gun duel, also led to the burning of several police vehicles.Kenneth Igweh is the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command. He confirmed the death of two police personnel during the clash as he added that other police were left unconscious in the hospital while three police patrol vehicles were also set ablaze.
The Police Commissioner stated this in a Press statement he signed shortly after the incident.
” The FCT police command wishes to confirm an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria , popularly known as the Shiite group, on some personnel of the NigerianPolice Force attached to FCT command at Wuse Junction by traffic light ,where two personnel were killed ,three left unconscious in the hospital ,and three police patrol vehicles set ablaze ” The police Commissioner said.
Igweh added that the proscribed Organization attacked the police checkpoint ,unprovoked ,wielding machetes,improvised explosive devices – locally made bombs in bottles with kerosene and Knives as he said several arrest were made.He vowed to bring those involved to book ,also told residents of the FCT that ,the situation has since brought under control and normalcy restored
Islamic Movement of Nigeria counter response
Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, who spoke on behalf of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, said police attacked the Arbaeen Symbolic Trek in Abuja and killed numerous mourners.
He said this in a press statement ,he signed on behalf of the Islamic movement leadership under Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub El-Zakzaky
.”We wish to inform the public that police have attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed numerous mourners.
While trying to disperse the Arba’een Trek, the police killed and injured numerous mourners.Presently, security agents are busy arresting the Arba’een Trek mourners ” Sheikh Munir Sokoto stated.
Sokoto added that medical practitioners are attending to those critically injured, and the details of those killed, injured, and arrested will be made available to members of the press in due course.
“Before the commencement of the trek, we have searched all participants to ensure no infiltration, and the program will end as scheduled. He further said, Sheikh Sokoto explained that the Arbaeen Trek that was conducted at the Masaka and Zuba axis ended peacefully and Successfully.
This is, however, not the first time this religious group, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, has clashed with the police forces.
There were similar clashes in 2016,2018,2020, and several others in northern states outside FCT.Another
More reactions on the clash
Abdullahi Hassan (Shazy) is the National Public Relations Officer of All-Ja’fariyah Development Association, a Shia Muslim Community in Nigeria.He said ,Shias are Persecuted in Nigeria because they are not bandits or Boko Haram. This was disclosed in a press statement he sent to Africa Press.
The statement said All-Ja’afariyya Development Association, a Shia Muslim Community in Nigeria, is compelled to address the persistent persecution of Shias in Nigeria. Despite being a peaceful and law-abiding community, Shias have faced relentless attacks, harassment, and discrimination. The reasons for this persecution are clear:
Shias are not useful idiots or criminals who engage in banditry and terrorism, on behalf of foreign interests and enemies of our country, unlike some groups used by these enemies. These forces employ bandits for kidnapping, killing, and displacing communities, exploiting resources for their sponsors.
Shias are not Boko Haram, who create insecurity by killing innocent people, taking over lands of innocent and poor Nigerians, and driving away inhabitants of resource-rich societies to secure and preserve these resources for their trainers and armers.
Unlike other groups,Shi’ates are not acting any foreign nation script.Shias are not stooges of leaders or countries used by globalists to usurp resources and impose ideologies that support genocide, in the name of Islam, or excommunication. One other crime of the Shias is holding on to the School of Thought of the holy Prophet (SAW), and his pure progeny.
A School of Thought that abhors disunity, bloodshed, and all forms of crimes against humanity, as opposed to the School of Thought of our decades-long persecutors, who are known for issuing false religious verdicts to call for the killings of the Shias.
‘It is on record that these two groups – Boko Haram and bandits have killed hundreds of Nigeria’s innocent, patriotic and gallant security forces that genuinely go to battle them to secure the nation. But, surprisingly the terrorists are not treated by the same security forces or seen by them as threats to the country, instead, they are busy profiling the shias who are all known as victims of both the terrorists and the security forces, as the only threats to national security” Abdullahi Hassan stated.”
He said.Abdullahi Shazi added that another worrisome development about the government’s handling of these criminals is the way their known ideologies and supporters among scholars, are surprisingly, being offered juicy appointments in President Tinubu’s government, as started by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government
Shi’ites will never be like Boko -Haram
If the Shias in Nigeria were like bandits and Boko Haram groups who are busy committing all forms of crimes against humanity or adopting ideology of excommunication, like ISIS, ISWAP, etc, who the Boko Haram owe their allegiance to, lives of the Shias would have been spared in Nigeria today, and they would have been on the payroll of those killing them with impunity.We urge the President Tinubu government to heed to the recent call on him by a human rights and civil society organization to avoid repeating the 2015 massacre of Shias in Zaria, simply because they are a minority Muslim religious group.
We also call on the government to desist from sponsoring Boko Haram Ideologues suddenly turned sponsored public affairs analysts to feature on media outlets, such as Vision FM, owned by pathological enemies of the Shias to spread fabricated lies and hatred against the Shias. Some of these media outlets were the ones the perpetrators of the 2015 Zaria massacre paid to run unethical programs to smear the name of the Shias using a false claim that they blocked road for General Tukur Burutai, a reason the army hid under to kill thousands of Shias, burying and burning hundreds of them alive, majority of whom were women and children, who were later dumped in mass graves in different locations in Kaduna state.
Our stand on the clashes
We want to remind the government which seems to be planning to carry out a drama similar to that of 2015, that the Shias have the Almighty Allah Who they rely on and pray to, to avenge them for any injustice done to them.
We strongly reject and view continuous persecution of the Shias, under whatever guise or fabricated acronym, because of their minority status, to please certain local interests or foreign powers, as having the potential of destroying Nigeria’s diplomatic image. It will only lead to further instability and tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation.
We therefore demand an immediate end to the persecution of Shias, and call on the government to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation.
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