Shi’ites, threat to national security – Islamic scholars

Islamic scholars from the northern region met yesterday in Kaduna and alleged that the Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) remained a security threat to the country.

The scholars spoke at the book presentation on the “Fallacy of Shi’ites beliefs” authored by a Fulani professor, Umar Labdo of the Maitama Sule University, Kano.

They also condemned what they described as “excesses” of the IMN in the north, alleging that the sect had manipulated the Holy Quran.

The SecreraryGeneral, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, said the only way to check the excesses of the Shi’ites was through the acquisition of knowledge in order to dislodge them.

“We have come to the end of this important presentation. If there is knowledge, we can change the excesses of the Shi’ites, “Khalid said.

The book reviewer, Prof. Salisu Shehu Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, called on Muslims not to allow Shi’ite members to occupy any position of authority in the land.

“We have heard that they have directed their members to collect their Permanent voter cards. We must all ensure that all Muslims collect their own(PVC) too,” he said.

The Emir of Hadejia, Adamu Abubakar Maje, who was represented by Galadima Hadejia, Alhaji Usman Abdullaziz, said the emirate council would support any move to curtail the IMN’S extremism.

However, reacting to the scholars’ allegations, the spokesperson of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa, said any gang-up by any group against the group would fail.

He added: “This gathering is also an attempt to justify the Zaria massacre of December 2015 and the subsequent victimisation of IMN members, which in reality is unjustifiable.”