
The Kaduna State Government in a White Paper has declared the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, an unlawful group and illegal association that must be proscribed.
The White Paper was released by the state government on Monday in Kaduna.
Premium Times quoted the White Paper as saying that “For all intent and purpose, the IMN is an insurgent group and ought to be treated as such.”
The White Paper was based on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Zaria clashes of December 2015 where over 300 members of the group were alleged to have been killed by Nigerian soldiers.
Last week, the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered the release of the Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who has been in detention since the Zaria killing.
However, the White Paper said El-Zakzaky, will be held responsible for all acts carried out by the group’s members.
“Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky,” the white paper states.
“He therefore bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness committed by the organisation and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted.”
Premium Times reports that In the white paper, the state government also indicated it may not prosecute the soldiers involved in the killing of over 300 members of the IMN in December last year, but may leave their prosecution to the federal government.