AhlulBayt News Agency - The Special Military Task Force in Plateau State has banned forthwith all forms of procession in the state following an alleged violence which followed the Shi'ite 'peaceful' procession on Saturday that allegedly led to the death of one person and the destruction of property.
In a statement, the media officer of the task force, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said only processions with the Commissioner of Police permit and escort would be allowed in the state, and the organisers would take responsibility for any fallout of such processions.
Women's group of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria had demonstrated peacefully in Jos during the weekend calling for the release of their spiritual leader, Sheikh El Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the group who were unjustly arrested following the Nigerian Army's brutal attack on the Islamic Movement on December 12 which thousands killed and injured.
The women dressed in black attires, had demonstrated 'peacefully' across the city of Jos. It was later said that the group become under attack of another Islamist youth group in the city leading to the death of one person. It is not clear yet the attack on peaceful procession of the members of the Islamic Movement was pre-planed or unintentional, but it is clear that Army tries its best to ban all activities of the Islamic Movement.
The spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim Mousa, previously emphasized that "We wish to reiterate here that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has never been armed and is not armed and does not operate or support any form of armed struggle. It is rather a Movement that believes in extending its message of fairness and justice to all irrespective of sect or religion in a peaceful manner".
"As a matter of policy the IMN has never and will never engage in any form of violent activities no matter the level of provocation. This is evident in the incident of the killing of 34 members of the Islamic Movement including three biological sons of the leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky by the Nigerian Army last year".
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