The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shitte said yesterday that all it requires from the federal government to stop its current agitation is the release of the incarcerated leader of the sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zinat.
The group was reacting to its proscription on Friday by Federal Government through a court order.
Human rights lawyers, Mr. Femi Falana and Chief Mike Ozekhome both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) however slammed the Federal Government for its move against the sect.
The lawyers dismissed the government action as illegal and immoral.
But the Secretary of the influential Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Anthony Sani, said last night that a court of competent jurisdiction could not have declared the IMN a terrorist group without concrete evidence.
In outlawing the IMN, Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja also designated the activities of the Shiite in any part of Nigeria โas acts of terrorism and illegality.โ
Besides, the court restrained โany person or group of personsโ from participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the IMN โunder any name or platformโ in Nigeria.
Reviewing the development yesterday, spokesman for the IMN Ibrahim Musa said the incarcerated couple should be released for them to take care of their damaged health.
He pleaded for the support of the international community for the group.
โWe hope the international community will put more pressure on the government. Our major demand is for them to release our leader to go and look after his health,โ he told Channels TV
โIf they do this; all our agitations, especially on the streets of Abuja will meltdown.โ
He also said that members of the group and their lawyers are currently studying the court order with a view to reacting appropriately.
But he was also quick to say it was absurd for the Federal Government to proscribe the group.
He said: โAs regards the court orders proscribing the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, for now, the movement hasnโt reached a decision.
โThe leading members and lawyers are studying the court order and very soon, they will issue a way out for the movement.
โBut we believe we are the victims of all that has been happening so it is very unfortunate that a group that has not retaliated, all the killings it has suffered under the President Muhammadu Buhariโs administration, it will now be accused of being a terrorist group.โ
He claimed that the group and its members, despite the attack on them, have not killed anybody.
โHave you ever seen a terrorist group that one-third of its members have been killed and they havenโt killed anybody?
โSo it is absurd we believe, for the Federal Government to take this step of proscribing the IMN.โ
