IMN faults FG’S plan to demonise members

MEMBERS of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria ( IMN) have faulted the Federal Government’s decision to tag them as terrorists.

IMN also raised the alarm of plans to sponsor a faceless body to hijack its coming Quds Day procession and wreak havoc in parts of the country.

The Shiites dismissed the terror label promoted by the government against IMN, saying they would continue to pursue their agitation through peaceful and legal means.

Spokesman of IMN, Ibrahim Musa, stated yesterday: “It seems the devilish plot by Buhari regime to annihilate IMN, which was kick- started during the Zaria massacre by the Nigerian Army in December 2015, is still being pursued. This time around, the regime is bent on using the false flag terror operation system to tarnish the image of the Islamic Movement.

“It has become absolutely necessary to state in unequivocal terms, once again, that use of terror tactics is simply not our modus operandi, and has never been, as evidenced by our incessant peaceful campaign, even in the face of state provocations in the last five years. This is not about to change. It is, therefore, a mark of government’s desperation to spread some sinister leaflets through a faceless group, claiming to be part of IMN and fighting for the release of our illegally incarcerated leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El- Zakzaky.” According to Musa, the faceless group plans to use IMN’S yearly Quds Day peaceful procession as springboard for its nefarious activities.

His words: “Hence, we find it necessary to reiterate our earlier stand that El- Zakzaky, in his over 40 years as the leader of the Islamic Movement, has never considered terror as a means of achieving the goals of the movement. He believes in using peaceful means and practices same in all his religious activities.

“Our coming Quds Day rallies and processions are a global event to be observed in several cities across the world, and it has never been a day of using violence to make the public understand the persecution and apartheid system practised by the Zionists regime in Israel on Palestine.”

Denouncing alleged persecution of members of IMN by the government, Musa said: “Let’s not forget that this isn’t the first time the government would be attempting to use false flag operations to falsely and unjustifiably link the movement to terrorism.”