IMN warns against use of its name for violence during its religious activities

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has distanced itself from violence during its religious activities.

The President of the Media Forum of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa, stated this on Tuesday in a statement following two consecutive days of confrontation with the military in Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by persons claiming to be members of the group led by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

While the group claimed that four of its members were shot dead by soldiers, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of three persons.

In the statement on Tuesday, Musa said: “It has become expedient to make this urgent clarification that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has never employed the use of violence in its entire period of existence. This is not about to change.

“It has come to our notice that Nigerian Security apparatus has commissioned its men and paid agents to massively infiltrate the Arbaeen procession scheduled to hold in Abuja in the coming days to induce violence with a view to smearing the Movement in the eyes of the World once and for all.

“The security forces appear to be bent on carrying out series of acts of violent attacks during the Arbaeen occasion in Abuja and subsequently attribute same to the members of the Movement in order to achieve what they have so far failed to do, which is associate the Movement with definite acts of violence. By this their plot, they seek to swing public opinion against the Movement.

“They have specifically chosen this period to conclusively achieve these devilish aims. We are aware of this two-faced scheming of the enemy to pretend they are part and parcel of the Arbaeen mourning procession, but in fact they mean evil.

“Therefore, we wish to once again categorically reject any suggestion of any use of violence in our name. The Islamic Movement is not and will not be responsible for any breech of peace or violence that will result from any false-flag plots during the Arbaeen mourning period and beyond. We will continue to profess and practice our religious beliefs as it is, devoid of any violent tendency and would not be blackmailed into submission or surrender.

“Our timely rallies, processions and other religious activities will continue as at when due and in our ways without fear of intimidation.

“Finally, we therefore draw the attention of the public and the international community that whatever happens to negate the solemn principle of the Arbaeen religious mourning procession, the Nigerian authorities must be held responsible.”