Police Takes New Decision On Shiite Protesters

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has said that any protester arrested in connection with the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shiites would be prosecuted under the “Terrorism Act.’’

Naija News understands that the Police IGP made this known on Tuesday at a conference organised by the Force Headquarters for senior police officers in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The new decision of the Police IGP comes after the Federal Government, on Friday, obtained a court order proscribing the IMN after it branded it as a terrorist organisation.

The IGP said the conference was organised to review the activities of the banned organisation and other security challenges with a view of taking appropriate measures in addressing them.

According to him, with the judicial pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Government has classified them as a terrorist group and accordingly proscribed the El-Zakzaky-led IMN.

In his words, the Police IGP said; “In consequence, henceforth, any person engaged or associating, in any manner that could advance the activities of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, shall be treated as a terrorist.

“Such person will be treated as an enemy of the State, and a subversive element and shall be brought to justice within the context of the Terrorism Act.

“The import of this is that all forms of procession or protest by IMN is now illegal and thus banned,” he said.

He said that the Nigerian constitutional provision must be exercised in a manner that would guarantee national security across states.

“All adherents of the Shiite Sect in Nigeria remain free to continue to practice their faith and shall be guaranteed adequate security to so do as the judicial order does not stop them.

“The El-Zakzaky-led Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria which does not recognise nor accept the Constitution and Government of the Federation is the sole organisation that has been classified as a terrorist organisation and proscribed,” he added.