Shi’ites allege plan by security forces to infiltrate group, cause violence

• Movement buries members in Kano
• Fayose urges ICC, Amnesty to probe alleged killing, seeks Zakzaky’s release

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has alleged plans by security agents to infiltrate its rank with the intention to cause violence.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, spokesman of IMN, also known as Shi’ites, said that it had come to the notice of the movement that security agents had been deploying some youths and miscreants, on two buses, clad in black attire with free Zakzaky inscriptions.

According to Musa, they were spotted at Malumfashi, Katsina State in anticipation of the Arbaeen mourning trek scheduled to take off from there.

“It appears that they will be used in some operations, simulating the Arbaeen trek, either independently or by joining members of the IMN, who are scheduled to embark on the annual trek to Zaria soon,” he alleged.

The Shi’ites spokesman said: “We draw the attention of the public to this suspicious activity that negates the very solemn, orderly or peaceful manner we have always conducted the Annual Arbaeen trek.”

Musa urged members of the movement to remain very vigilant throughout and “To expose any evil manoeuvres of these unscrupulous security operatives.”

He further alleged: “Some of these agents might have equally been dispatched to other axis as well, necessitating IMN’s continued attentiveness and members to report such suspicious moves in the most appropriate way.”

In a related development, the leader of IMN in Kano, Sunusi Abdulkadir Koki yesterday, led the funeral prayer and burial of some of the members who died during the procession in Kano State.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International and others to investigate the alleged murder of members of the movement.

The governor also described the detention of the leader of the Shi’ite sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky since last year December and some of his members as inhuman and a clear contravention of his fundamental human rights.