By Milcah Tanimu
The Kaduna State Police Command has issued a stern warning to the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly known as Shiites, against any unlawful assembly or procession. This comes in response to intelligence reports indicating the group’s plan to hold a procession in celebration of the 2024 Ashura Day ceremony.
In a statement, the command’s spokesman, Mansir Hassan, emphasized that any form of illegal protest by the IMN will not be tolerated. The police cited past incidents of violence and property destruction associated with such processions as the basis for this ban.
“The command has banned every manner of illegal protest in the state. This is coming on the heels of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shi’ite planning a procession to mark the 2024 Islamic Ashura Day ceremony,” the statement read. “It is an undeniable fact that the said ritual practice has in the recent past been characterized by unimaginable violence leading to the destruction of properties, injuries to persons, and even loss of lives.”
The statement further warned that the police will enforce the law strictly against any group or individual who attempts to defy the ban. “The command will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any person or group, especially the outlawed IMN members that dared to violate the ban,” it stated.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ali Dabigi, urged all law-abiding citizens to continue with their daily activities without fear, assuring them that the police are committed to maintaining the state’s hard-earned peace and security. “The hard-earned relative peace in the state can never be compromised by the selfish deviance of a few renegades,” Dabigi said.
