Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites have faulted the claim by the Federal Government that its activities are similar to that of Boko Haram insurgents.

The group also condemned the continued detention of its leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, after the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered their release.

IMN in their reaction to a response by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a report by Amnesty International said, “the response signed by the ministry’s spokesperson misfired on several grounds.”
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Debunking the submission by the government that Shiites should be equated to Boko Haram, the spokesman of the group, Mallam Ibrahim Musa in a statement yesterday said: “We are particularly concerned with what the ministry said concerning the case of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky that his case is a high and sensitive national security issue.

“It further alleged that the activities of the Sheikh Zakzaky-led movement is reminiscent of Boko Haram, which has become a menace and a source of concern not only to Nigeria, but to the world. This is a wild and baseless allegation by the ministry.”

The Shiites spokesman added: “The ministry further said that the conduct of the movement cannot be tolerated by any progressive democratic government. What is progressive or even democratic about a government that tramples on citizens’ rights with impunity and reckless abandon?

What is democratic about a government that violates the constitution and disregards the rule of law?”