By Charles Ibekwe
These are certainly not the best of times for
members of the Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN)
or the Nigerian Shiites. Their actions in the recent past have provoked very
damning consequences for the sect members, much more as Nigerians are convinced
of its links to the ISIS of Iran.
In the near
40 years history of its existence in Nigeria, the Shiites have steadily earned
for themselves the reputation of violent extremists, destroyers and
lawbreakers, whose impunity has extended to frequent violent attacks on
security agents. In Shiites, Nigerians see a personification of brutality and
the latest discovery of its hidden agenda to introduce another version of
terrorism in Nigeria has compelled different segments of the Nigerian society
to outrightly denounce and ex-communicate them.
By implication, the entire Nigerian state has risen
against the IMN members, as other Muslims and communities do not wish to have
anything to do with the Shiites. They are even rejected as neighbors to anyone,
a stigma they are battling so hard to conceal.
The Nigerian Shiites have attracted this ignominy
based on some of their unacceptable actions and inclination to violence. In
December last year, the Shiites attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff
(COAS) Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria Kaduna state. The IMN blocked his way and rejected all
entreaties to have the road open for the Army boss to have a thoroughfare. The
ensuing violent encounters led to deaths.
Similarly, earlier this month, the Shiites again,
under the leadership of Sheik Sanusi Abdulkadir Koki attacked the Nigerian police in Kano state
for daring to stop their annual procession for
this year’s annual Arbaeen Trek to Zaria, an event that mourns the
martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS). The Police which had declared the procession
illegal, attempted to stop them, but were met with stiff resistance, as the
sect members permanently armed, unleashed violence on the Police, leading to
deaths and injuries to officers.
Thus, Nigerians cannot discern why the Shiites in
Nigeria worship on streets/roads with long processions, instead of the mosque
like other Muslims. And during such offensive processions, the sect members are
usually armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, they deploy to use without
provocation. The atrocities of IMN members have been manifold and following the
recent calls by Shiek Koki for its members never to obey the laws of the land,
has further alienated them from the clan
of sane people and the Nigerian masses who have become increasingly repulsive
of the Shiites with their violent versions of Islam.
Protests against the Nigerian Shiites have taken
place variously in America, United Kingdom, and Malaysia and indeed, in other
parts of the world denouncing Shiites whose penchant to violence and its
frequent attacks on security agents has assumed a dangerous impunity.
For instance, Nigerians in the United States of
America protested against the liberty extended to the Shiites by the FGN and
sued for the prosecution of leader of the sect and the members. Operating under
the aegis of Movement of the People of Nigeria,
Cosmas Collins, the US Coordinator of the group which staged a protest
at United Nations Building and Nigeria House in New York frowned at the non-prosecution
of El-Zakzaky.
He said, “Failure to prosecute these people,
including El-Zakyzaky is making other groups think of coming out because it is
now believed that it is fashionable to take on the state without consequences.
The government must not also omit to consider bringing charges of subversion
against members of the group for inviting Iranian intervention in Nigeria’s
internal affairs. As a prelude to this, the government should investigate the
finances of the group and its senior members to see if they have been
beneficiary of Iranian sponsorship of terrorism”.
Back home in Nigeria, the Shiites are also rejected
as no one is willing to associate or transact business with them. Saminaka,
headquarters of Lere in Kaduna State recently demonstrated this aversion to the
Shiites as both Christian and Muslim communities protested against the Shiites'
plan to erect a building in the
community.
The provincial pastor of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God (RCCG), Mr. Oludare Ojo led the protests as he wrote to CAN
kicking against the location of a Shiites' site near the church premises.
Ojo said “They are not comfortable since it is located
directly in front of the church”. The pastor feared that with the recent
incidents of violence initiated by the group in the country, its proximity to the Church was a threat. While
Christians are protesting Muslims too have joined in rejecting IMN sect
members.
Muslim clerics in the area equally alerted the
Sarkin Saminaka and security agencies of threats by members of the community to
forcefully destroy the site of the Shiite building if allowed to be erected.
In Kano state, Shiites protests for the release of
El-Zakzaky provoked residents who massively ganged up to chase them away. A
coalition of civil society organizations have at different times lashed out at
the Shiites, calling for their prosecution over acts of violence and treason.
The rejection of Shiites has become so pronounced
that even Shiites spokesman Ibrahim Musa recently lamented that, “When we were
with other Muslims, they said they don’t want us and that is why we decided to
build our centre here. The building is just an Islamic centre. We also have an
Islamic school there in Saminaka. People who are against us, like the Izaila,
those Muslims who go on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia are the ones against us. We
have a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).”
The implication of this widespread rejection of the
Shiites in Nigeria means their doctrines are detestable and they are no longer
needed in a peaceful country like Nigeria. This has already been expressed in
the IMN's ban by the Kaduna State Government and its replication in Kano and
other places in the North.
What their Iranian collaborators intends to achieve
through the IMN has been discovered quite early and the Nigerian Shiites are
free to relocate to the abodes of their paymasters in Iran. But what has
remained certain is that Nigeria would never be anywhere near Syria and Iran
where the ISIS have found as a fertile ground to destabilize through their
noxious campaigns of religion. Nigerians would not overlook their garments of
terrorism.
A civil rights activist contributed this piece from
5 New Haven Avenue, Enugu State.
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