Shiites Planning to Invade Abuja, Group Alleges

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group, the Abuja Peace and Development Initiative, has raised the alarm over plans by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, to violently invade Abuja, the nation’s capital this week.

Its President, Aaron Audu, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja alleged that the last batch of fighters to launch the attack are on the way into the city.

He said the last batch of the Shiites were part of the caravan stopped at the military checkpoint in Zuba on Saturday for being in possession of dangerous weapons.

Audu noted that their attack on the military men at the checkpoint confirmed that they were invaders.

Towards this end, the group called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to stop the forceful invasion of the nation’s capital.

Audu stated: “IMN members must be reminded that Abuja, being a secular cosmopolitan city, has no room for the kind of hardship they inflicted on the resident of Zaria, where they take over roads on regularly basis on the pretext of holding religious treks.”

“Much as the constitution guarantees religious freedom, the practice in Abuja has been for the individual to exercise same within the confines of reason and respect for other residents of the city. This is a fact that IMN members must continually avail themselves of,”

“We warn anyone acting under foreign sponsorship in the name of Shiites, Shia, IMN or any other brand to desist from that immediately as Nigerians fully know the sponsors of these growing acts of terrorism and will not condone them,” he added.