(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The movement also known as Shi’ite made the remark in reaction to allegations by the Department of State Services, DSS, saying it’s planning to embark on a violent protest, dailypost reported.
It urged members of the public to disregard DSS’ claim, saying it is coming from “purveyor of half-truths among the agents of DSS that are profiteering from the denial of the rights of IMN to embark on violent protest.”
A statement signed by its President of Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa and made available to DAILY POST, on Monday reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a report emanating from the Directorate for state security saying that they have learnt from credible sources that Shiites are to embark on violent protest.
“The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has no plan whatsoever to stage any violent protest; hence this report is another from the purveyors of half-truths among the agents of DSS that are profiteering from the denial of the rights of IMN members and should be disregarded.
“Similar fake so-called intelligent reports by the Military alleging that IMN members were stockpiling arms for revenge attack was the alibi for the December 2015 massacre, which led to the extra-judicial murder of over a thousand innocent citizens in Zaria.
“This was later disproved even by their own one-sided Commission of inquiry that found and reported that the widely held belief that IMN was stockpiling weapons was not true.
“The DSS and other security agents must realise that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of citizens. They must come to terms with this fact. It cannot be denied under any pretence. The heavy-handedness of security agents since the unjustifiable December 2015 attack is enough justification for peaceful protests.
“Additionally, the continued detention of our leader, Sheikh Zakzaky by the federal government in contempt of the court is a further justification for peaceful protests.
“We will like to reassure the general public that our protests will continue to remain peaceful no matter the provocation as it has always been. We will not succumb to any intimidation. We remain focused and resolute on our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of our leader Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife and other detainees.”
The prominent cleric and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2115, after deadly clashes between the supporters of the IMN movement and Nigerian troops.
Nearly 350 members of the Shia movement were killed in the clashes. The sheikh was brutally injured and his house was reportedly destroyed by the army in the incident.
The judge said he had given 45 days for authorities to provide new accommodation for the Zakzaky family. The accommodation is to be in the town of Zaria, Kaduna state, where the family were detained, or in other parts of the state or alternatively any other part of northern Nigeria.
Kolawole said the State Security Service would pay each of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife $78,984 in compensation for the violation of their rights by being held in unlawful custody for nearly a year.
Nearly 100 IMN supporters were killed when Nigerian forces fired live rounds and tear gas at mourners during a peaceful march ahead of the Arbaeen mourning rituals, which mark 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam. Authorities also destroyed a number of buildings belonging to the IMN.
The Nigerian government has stepped up its crackdown on the IMN since the December 2015 deadly incident.
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