Shiites deny kidnapping colonel, as army stakes N1m for clue

As the Military authorities in Kaduna raised the reward for information leading to the where about of the abducted Army Colonel in Kaduna last Sunday to N1million, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Shiites have exonerated themselves from his kidnap.

A statement on Monday by the spokesman of IMN, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, said that “our attention has been drawn to a false,
unsubstantiated and mischievous claim, that looks more like a planned operation aimed at painting the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) black, of some intelligence report that the IMN may plan kidnap of military officers for ransom for the release of our revered leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.

According to him, “typically, this was followed by the alleged kidnap of an Army officer in Kaduna with the Nigerian Army issuing statement calling on the public to give information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Soon, some media outlets were quick to quote these malicious sources linking the IMN with the alleged
kidnap.

It is obvious that the government and its Army are going further with their plans of campaign of calumny and false propaganda against the Movement ranging from smear documentaries on Television networks, advertorials in daily newspapers, sponsoring fake non-governmental organizations and engagement of some very dubious characters to malign the IMN and its leadership, to engaging in organized crimes and attributing same to the Movement.

“We wish to categorically state here that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of His Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has never, is not and will never engage in any form of crime to meet any of its objectives. Crime and criminal activities are fundamentally sinful and are not in our character.

“Therefore, it is virtually illogical and unreasonable for anyone to presume that the IMN would turn around to engage in such acts of
immorality. The IMN is a peaceful mass Movement, with enlightened and responsible members. For close to four decades now, it has conducted its activities in the most civilized manner and cannot in any way be derailed from that golden track record.”

The Nigeria Army had earlier on Monday promised a N1million reward for anyone with useful information that could lead to the rescue of Colonel Inusa, just as it assured that the information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

Colonel Inusa was seized in his Mercedes-Benz car by gunmen around Kamazo, along Kaduna Refinery Road, in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State on Saturday night.

As part of efforts to successfully rescue the senior officer, Spokesman of One Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Usman told Journalists on Monday that the Army authority is ready to give the said cash reward to any person with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the officer.The authority had earlier pledged N500, 000 cash reward, but on Monday raised the cash reward to N1 million.