Al Jazeera’s Inside Story programme last night took a look at the Nigerian government’s decision to get a court to proscribe the predominantly Shia group, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). Nigeria’s Muslims are mostly Sunni, including most of the northern Nigeria ruling elite, from President Muhammadu Buhari to state governors and military top brass. Many observers are concerned about the perception that the decision to ban the IMN may be for sectarian reasons.

Host Martine Dennis first asked Ibrahim Musa, an IMN spokesman, how they will respond to the ban. He said they will challenge it in court because it is unconstitutional and against the freedom of association, religion and expression. Musa also denied allegations that his group engaged in violence. When asked why the Nigerian state has used violence against the IMN, he replied that they “want to kill” their leader Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been in detention since the military raided his compound in Zaria, Kaduna State in December 2015.

Musa also said that the violence against them was in order to “create an insurgency”. He argued that insurgency was a money-spinner for a “corrupt” military, that he alleged had made billions of dollars from fighting the Boko Haram insurgency. He said the attempts to instigate violence from the Shia won’t work because the sect doesn’t “subscribe to terrorism”. Musa also denied allegations that they were influenced by Iran.

More + video: https://www.naijiant.com/videos/why-has-nigeria-banned-a-shia-muslim-group/