Shiites disown ‘spokesman’

Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), known as Shiites, has disowned one Ibrahim Musa as its official spokesman.

“It(IMN) does not have any official spokesperson,” director, Sayyid Zakzaky office said on Tuesday.

“So, therefore, we wish to announce that, one Mr. Ibrahim Musa that is referred to as spokesperson of the Islamic movement is not actually a spokesperson of the Islamic movement.”

For more than four years, IMN members have been facing off with the Nigerian Government over the continued detention of their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, despite court rulings authorising his release.

El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat were arrested by the Nigerian government in 2015. The couple is facing an eight-count of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disturbance of public peace.

On Tuesday, July 30, the Nigerian government officially proscribed IMN a few days after a court outlawed the Islamic group over its recent violent clashes with the police while protesting the release of their leader.

The proscribed Islamic group, however, noted that Musa who had issued different statements on behalf of the group has done that on his personal terms. IMN affirmed that Musa is a supporter of the movement but not its official spokesman.