Army denies us access to our cemetery, Shiites say

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites have alleged that the Nigeria military denied them access to their cemetery in Zaria, Kaduna State for them to bury their members recently killed in Abuja.

A member of the Resource Forum of the movement, Mohammed Ibrahim Gamawa, who led some members of the group to Daily Trust headquarters in Abuja yesterday, alleged that when 43 dead bodies of their members were taken to the cemetery last Thursday for burial, the military told them that there was an order to stop them from accessing the cemetery.

He said the security operatives were stationed at the cemetery up till around 7pm of that day, adding that they returned the bodies to the cemetery around 8pm when they noticed they had left the place.

Gamawa said the movement lost 53 members to the incident, adding that another 10 bodies were released to them by the police on Tuesday.

Gamawa, who asked the Nigeria authority to come out with offences the movement had committed to warrant the incessant attacks by the security operatives, urged relevant authority to respect the constitution provision of free association, peaceful procession as well as respect court judgments.

On the fear in some quarters that the movement may transform into terrorist organisation if not properly checked now, Gamawa said the group, which he said, made up of educated elites, would never take up arms against anybody or institution, claiming that there is a Christian wing of the group under a pastor in Kaduna.

On claims that the movement is being backed by Iran, Gamawa linked relationship between the group and Iran to that of Catholic and Pope in Rome or Sunni Muslims with Saudi Arabia. Chairman Senate Committee on States and Local Government, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, yesterday said the Senate would push for more funding for border communities to check insecurity in the country.

He made this known during an oversight visit by the committee to the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) in Abuja.

“We will go to any length and talk to anybody that is concerned about more funds to the border communities so that we can get our country secured,” he said.

He said the Senate regards the agency as important because lack of amenities at borders would make them vulnerable, adding that the communities must have good medical care, schools and other amenities.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of BCDA, Captain Junaid Abdullahi said the work of the agency is important because the border communities are the gateway into the country.

He said people living in those areas need amenities such that they have no need looking across the borders seeking any social infrastructure or services from neighboring countries.

“We need to secure the loyalty of the border communities to make them feel they belong to this country,” he said.