A civil society organization has said that the Kaduna state ban on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is not enough. The group, Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) on Sunday, October 9, in Abuja said the federal government must follow the path of the Kaduna state government in banning the Islamic group and its members from any form of illegal activities. CATE’s secretary general Daniel Obaje who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja urged the federal government to take a step further by placing a nationwide ban on the activities of the group popularly known as Shiites. Obaje highlighting his reasons said a strict enforcement must be ensure to the existence of Nigeria as a country. “It is in this light that we urge the Federal Government to follow the example set in Kaduna state by immediately outlawing the IMN nationwide and to pursue criminal charges against anyone that continues to maintain the group, remains its member or attempt to reorganize it under a new name or identity,” Obaje said.
The Kaduna state governor Nasir el-Rufai had on Friday, October 7, announced a ban on the Shiite group, its members and activities in the state. The governor while making the declaration said that any person associating with the group or its activities risk and penalty of seven years jail term. However, on Saturday, October 8, the spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Musa in a statement condemned the Kaduna state order. Musa said the governor was using the ban to infringe on the group’s basic human rights and freedom of association.
However, on Saturday, October 8, the spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Musa in a statement condemned the Kaduna state order. Musa said the governor was using the ban to infringe on the group’s basic human rights and freedom of association.
But shortly after releasing his statement, the Kaduna state government further ordered the arrest of Musa. The state government said Musa’s statement was illegal and contrary to the new state’s law. In support of the governor’s action, Obaje said the Islamic group has overtime undermined security in the state and the nation as whole.
Obaje said: “Because there have been previous concerns that remnants of the Boko Haram terror group are ditching their sectarian affiliation and joining IMN, the federal government should immediately mandate security agencies to dismantle the IMN’s network, cells and infrastructure as a way of ensuring they are unable to resurface as a more deadly terror group.” He also urged that all those associated with the group be kept under close security watch and not allowed to leave the shore of Nigeria where they could get advanced training or further radicalization. Obaje also advised the Nigerian government in collaboration with the Kaduna state government to immediately order a freeze on bank accounts illegally operated by the banned group. He said an organization that has no legal existence should not be able to meet the Know Your Customer requirements of banking institutions.
“In this regard, the ban on IMN should extend to its subsidiaries and affiliate organizations founded on the same model and ideology. “Further directives must be issued to security agencies with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) being in the lead of unraveling how much foreign funds come to the IMN and if they have link to international terror financing. We appeal to the judiciary not to overlook national interest in entertaining suits that IMN sympathizers would institute in their bid to overturn this ban. “We urge government at all levels to identify and outlaw other extremists groups existing in the country. For this purpose, a database of such groups should be created and made public to discourage citizens from becoming members of, supporting or financing such groups.” The organization also urged the Nigerian government to begin massive enlightenment campaigns to promote religious and sectarian tolerance among the population.
culled from: NAIJ
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