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The Global Action for Peace (GAP) has alerted the United States of America (USA) and Britain to the safety of its citizens in Nigeria following threats of attack by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
The proscribed radical Islamic sect had hinted of an impending attack on foreigners after a military action by the United States of America led to the death of top Iranian military commander, General Qassem Soliemani in Iran.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the GAP revealed that the threat issued by the IMN to citizens of the U.S. and the United Kingdom (UK) in Nigeria was an “affront on our collective sensibilities as Nigerians, which must be looked into by the security agencies.”
Convener of the group, Dr. Joseph Agbo, stated that the action was an indication of the lack of regard the group has for constituted authorities in the country and urged the nations to blacklist the sect known for violence and bloodshed.
It further advised the U.S. and UK to activate measures that would support the efforts of the security agencies in Nigeria in curtailing the IMN’s threats.
“The Global Action for Peace wishes to use this medium to inform members of the public of the threat posed by the proscribed IMN to citizens of the U.S. and the UK in Nigeria.
“This is on the heels of the U.S. military action that led to the death of General Qassem Soliemani, a top Iranian military commander in Iraq recently.
“This action by the IMN should give all well-meaning Nigerians cause for concern given the fact that the Federal Government has not made any official statement given the position of the United Nations (UN) over the military face-off between the U.S. and Iran.”
Meanwhile, members of IMN have alleged that Federal Government’s refusal to release the leader of the sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, was a plan to make him die in detention.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had detained El-Zakzaky since 2015 after confrontation with officers of the Nigerian Army, in which some members of the sect were killed in Kaduna State.
National President of the Association of Shi’ite Singers also known as ‘Ittihadus Shu’ara Harakatil Islamiyya, Mustafa Umar Gadonkaya, made the allegation at the weekend during the lunching of 100 songs in Bauchi in solidarity with El-Zakzaky.
Mustapha explained that their leader was arrested and held by security agents since December 2015, noting that the authorities have refused to obey several court orders for his release, payment of compensation and reconstruction of his demolished buildings, during the encounter between its members and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna state.
