EXCLUSIVE: Buhari considers proscription of Shiite IMN in Nigeria


President Muhammadu Buhari is considering the proscription of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), PREMIUM TIMES has learnt from security and administration sources.

The proscription, which is likely to come in form of an executive order, is expected to be made public between tonight and tomorrow, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
An emergency meeting of security chiefs held at the State House late Monday afternoon, and the conclusion was that the IMN will be declared an illegal organisation in Nigeria.

It is a direct response to the protests that turned violent Monday when members of Shiite IMN took over the streets of central Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
The demonstration was billed as just another instalment of relentless agitation for the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, a foremost Nigerian Shiite cleric who was taken into custody four years ago.

It, however, ended with casualties, including the death of a deputy police commissioner. The IMN said 11 of its members were killed during the violence.
Presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not immediately return requests for comments about the president’s consideration of a Shiite proscription on Monday night.

Mr El-Zakzaky was arrested following an invasion of his residence in Zaria, northern Nigeria, between December 12-14, 2015.

The official death toll of the invasion, which was carried out by Nigerian soldiers in the dead of the night, was 347 for Shi’a adherents. The IMN said the official death toll was grossly downplayed and insisted more than 1,000 of its members were killed in that single attack.

The military said the protesters had attempted to block the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, from the free passage on a highway that runs through the Shi’a headquarters in Zaria in the evening of December 12, 2015, and soldiers had no choice but to open fire when the Shiites became unruly.

The IMN strongly disputed the military’s account, saying its members were peaceful during the encounter.

They also questioned why the Nigerian Army deployed heavily armed soldiers, bulldozers and excavators to demolish both the headquarters and Mr El-Zakzaky’s residence in an operation that lasted two days.
A panel of enquiry constituted by the Kaduna State Government indicted Nigerian Army officers for the massacre, and also recommended the prosecution of some IMN leaders for various offences.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai accepted the conclusions of the judicial panel, but partially implemented its recommendations by proscribing the Shiite movement in Kaduna State.

No action was taken against the military officers indicted by the panel.
A separate investigation into the violence has been ongoing at the United Nations, with preliminary findings revealing that the Nigerian government has questions to answer.

Mr El-Zakzaky and his members have instituted several court cases against the government for his detention, and an order for his release had been handed down by a federal court.

However, the government has been reluctant to obey the order, citing national security and the cleric’s safety.
A few days ago on July 10, federal lawmakers also passed a resolution for the Buhari administration to honour court orders and release the cleric. They expressed fears that Nigeria’s security crisis could get even more complicated if IMN members become radicalised over the prolonged incarceration of their leader and deadly confrontations with security forces.
The cleric was taken away from the public’s view, alongside his wife, Zeenah, who was arrested with him on December 14, 2015.

He was only allowed a brief appearance before television cameras at the headquarters of the State Security Service in Abuja, where he had been detained for the most of his incarceration.

A few months ago, the cleric was transferred to Kaduna and arraigned on criminal charges. But widespread protests for his release continued almost every other day since his arrest.

The protesters have encountered deadly response from Nigerian security forces, which had led to hundreds of deaths.

In October 2018, dozens of Shiites were killed when Nigerian soldiers responded to a procession with live ammunition.
Security agencies, however, denied using disproportionate force, saying the Shiites were the aggressors and they would not be allowed to take over the Nigerian capital and unleash violence on citizens.
Groundwork laid

The Buhari administration has long categorised IMN as a violent group and encourages the use of force to suppress its agitations.

“This proscription will put an end to the madness of Shiites in Nigeria,” one of the official sources who confirmed the discussion on the executive order for proscription told PREMIUM TIMES Monday night.
Another source said Mr Buhari would cite the Terrorism Prevention Act to ban the Shiite movement in Nigeria. The law was introduced under President Goodluck Jonathan to proscribe Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation and intensify the crackdown on its members.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the police have concluded that they might not be able to contain Shiite protesters in Abuja any longer. But the administration had now become reluctant to deploy soldiers to crush protests in downtown Abuja because of its negative perception.
Sources said Mr Buhari sympathised with the situation the police have found themselves on the Shiite crisis but was also concerned about what Nigerians would say should he proscribe yet another group for its antagonistic tactics.

“The judgement is called for,” a source said. “But the presidency is probably concerned that people will say: so why not Fulani Herdsmen, too?”
Our sources spoke under anonymity because they were not authorised to disclose the development before a formal announcement by the administration.

If gazetted, the IMN will be the second organisation to be proscribed by Mr Buhari, who assumed office in May 2015 and was declared the winner of a second term this March. The government had declared the separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) a violent group in 2017 and proscribed its activities across Nigeria.

It was not immediately clear how the IMN would respond to its proscription if announced.
A spokesperson for the movement said a decision would be taken after official announcement by the administration

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Is proscription really the solution to what is brewing or this was just the plan all along?

Who are the Presidents advisers?

The last time I heard the word proscription was when Sani Abacha held sway as a Military dictator.

Which kind wahala this people dey nurture like this.

However they want it, no wahala...make the country scatter sef

Enough of bullocks abeg

Nigeria! Rather than obey court orders and address the root cause of issues, this government will rather just walk roughshod over everything and person that oppose it. IMN has existed for decades in this country but now, because Buhari is president, it is about to become an illegal, terrorist group. That is how they rather take the simple option of banning codeine and sniper rather than taking the pains with all the expertise at its disposal to properly regulate those items and addressing the root causes of abuse and maintaining a sane society/country.

We are back to a military regime without even knowing it

From Boko haram to Fulani herdsmen...now na Shiites. Obey simple court order and release their leader Elzak-zaky for dem, you no gree.
See as e hol Biro like say him sabi wetin e dey write

If you chop one plate of beans, how u want take know which seed make u mess? Buhari no sabi him problem

If dey could proscribe Ipob then dis ones even deserve worst

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91MNMMi8mFc

What type of foolishness is this.......,will u call this man a president! Why not meet with the people demand and then, give a serious warning! Chai,see leader!!!

Just Release their leader for them as the court ordered and stop all this nonsense. If you proscribe them then what next? Send your soldiers to wipe them out? Analog approach to everything

It's about time

Woe to you, O land, when your President is a cow

And the terrorist Fulani herdsmen have to be pacified with RUGA in 36 states of Nigeria?
No way.

I want to believe this is fake news. But if this is true, then PMB lacks the basic Leadership skills and understanding to rule a complex country like Nigeria. Even his supporters should be ashame of him.
Nigeria is about to enter into another recession. Things are really bad.....some of us that do little contracts with Ministries and MDAs are feeling the heat.
The absence of ministers is obviously affecting the operations of these Ministries. Why is Buhari making it look that it is rocket science to appoint minister or obey simple court orders?

This man Buhari will not fail to disappoint !!!

daddytime:
Is proscription really the solution to what is brewing or this was just the plan all along?

Who are the Presidents advisers?

The last time I heard the word proscription was when Sani Abacha held sway as a Military dictator.

Which kind wahala this people dey nurture like this.

However they want it, no wahala...make the country scatter sef

Enough of bullocks abeg

for 5 yrs abacha sat on the progress of nigeria....buhari wants to sit on it for 8 yrs.

Buhari will be rememberd as a highly divisive president, nothing more, nothing less

One stupid fool was running around nairaland asking buhari to transfer el zakki to onitsha....telling how gej killed his son....the fool doesnt realise is that most people never knew about this group till buhari made them popular....just like ipob and fulani herdsmen.

Buhari is a poor leader

Nigerians, be careful how much power you give to Buhari he will kill all of you. Don’t be afraid to question Buhari’s actions and policies as they can never be for your own good as a citizen of Nigeria.

Buhari’s only aim is to conquer Nigeria for Saudi with his primitive believes.

Buhari can not be trusted

Lol, una neva ‘chee chomthing’. Sai buhari while the frayed unity of the nation continues to be unraveled slowly thread by thread!

Next level make una enjoy the zoo country with zoo ruler

Since they proscribed bo.ko ha.ram . what has its benefit soo far. Just let the man go and stop further bloodshed

Buhari is a criminal terrorist
he'll end up like morssi of Egypt
mark my words

fulani herdsmen are openly causing mayhem in the country threatening and terrorizing the innocent farmers and travelers openly
yet this old hag shrink dick terrorist has already made them armed security and ready to give them land for free

now these people are not asking much but for the release of their leader whom the court has by the way granted freedom so many times instead of you obeying the court you held their leader because he's a shite Muslim

now this is the end result
he thinks this is ipob nope for your information these are your fellow Muslims who are willing to meet Allah because of this act
i see a new extremist arising
Buhari don't care about this country all he wants is to impose jihad in the South.

curse be to anyone supporting this criminal government

Thunder scatter Buhari Insha'Allah amin
Thunder scatter Buhari Insha'Allah amin
Thunder scatter aisha masha Allah amin
Thunder scatter zara masha Allah amin
Thunder scatter Yusuf Insha'Allah amin

I like the way these people are killing those police officers that not well training. Any small thing they will start open fire. However el rufai will destroy this country the way the man commanding Buhari no be small.

Most people don't know what and who is a national security threat.
The kind of intelligence reports the president received on hourly/daily bases is beyond what many people on this forum can comprehend.
The only thing stopping the group IMN from becoming a full flagged terror group is because, their leader is in detention. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN ZARIA&SYRIA. THEIR OVERSEAS COUNTERPARTS WERE FIGHTING POLICAL/JIHADS' WAR.

dalongjnr:
Most people don't know what and who is a national security threat.
The kind of intelligence reports the president received on hourly/daily bases is beyond what many people on this forum can comprehend.
The only thing stopping the group IMN from becoming a full flagged terror group is because, their leader is in detention. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN ZARIA&SYRIA. THEIR OVERSEAS COUNTERPARTS WERE FIGHTING POLICAL/JIHADS' WAR.

crap crap crap.... Oga the only thing stopping them is because their leader is still alive. remember how bokoharam started?

I BLAME YORUBA PEOPLE FOR ALL THESE. Look at the nonsense they brought upon us all because they wanted a fụcking 2023 presidency

Igbere tv, Ipob media arm.

-Osu Amaka

selemempe:
for 5 yrs abacha sat on the progress of nigeria....buhari wants to sit on it for 8 yrs.

Buhari will be rememberd as a highly divisive president, nothing more, nothing less

One stupid fool was running around nairaland asking buhari to transfer el zakki to onitsha....telling how gej killed his son....the fool doesnt realise is that most people never knew about this group till buhari made them popular....just like ipob and fulani herdsmen.

Buhari is a poor leader

if u help me d idiots n cow defender again tell him thunder fire him his likes n Buhari

Proscription will make it worse. People that are not afraid to die already, when you now call them terrorists then prepare for real wahala.

dalongjnr:
Most people don't know what and who is a national security threat.
The kind of intelligence reports the president received on hourly/daily bases is beyond what many people on this forum can comprehend.
The only thing stopping the group IMN from becoming a full flagged terror group is because, their leader is in detention. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN ZARIA&SYRIA. THEIR OVERSEAS COUNTERPARTS WERE FIGHTING POLICAL/JIHADS' WAR.

. Buhari doen't receive any intelligence from anywhere,stop deceiving yourself. If at all, there's any,recruiting repentant boko haram is the best security approach to national security? Or setting up radio station to killer herdsmen will solve the security threat in Nigeria? Common grow up dude.

Hmm

Is Buhari too big to talk as a man with ElZakzaky?

Why adding salts to the injury?

A country governs by a failure supported by religious fanatics is equal to failure.

Proscribing them won't stop them from still coming out to protest for the release of their leader. They are loyal to their leader and cause and not even the bullets have scared them away. Who is advising this president? Force is not the solution to all problems.

Police and army will still shoot unarmed protesters. Buhari will have a bigger record to face at the ICC eventually.

Buhari is the one that should be proscribed in the first place .that man is a danger to Nigeria