The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, otherwise referred to as Shi’ite has declared that it is ready to dialogue with the Federal Government.
The position of the group was expressed on Saturday by its interim leader, Yakubu Yahaya, at a press briefing held in Katsina State.
Describing Shi’ite as a peace-loving group, Yahaya said the group would not allow itself to be used to destabilise Nigeria.
His words: “Our doors are open for dialogue with the government and whoever wants to dialogue with us. Our doors are open anytime, without condition for dialogue. Because we understand the government, it is the government that doesn’t understand us. If they seek our hands of friendship, we are ever ready.
“We are peace-loving people. And we have no country other than Nigeria, so we won’t allow anybody to use us to destabilise the peace of the country.”
The leader said further: “We are not fighting the government because we understand them but it is the government who is fighting and attacking us because they don’t understand our religion.
“Our religion permits us to rally during the observation of our various occasional events so if they agree that we have a religion they should allow us to practise our religion the way we understand it. If there is a law or verse from the Holy Book that prohibits our activities they should prove it to us.”
Shi’ite has been at loggerhead with security agents since the arrest of its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in 2015.
El-Zakzaky’s arrest followed the group’s clash with the military in Kaduna.
Several protests carried out by the group in different parts of the country, particularly, Abuja, to seek the release of its leader, have led to deaths.
The group was later outlawed by the Federal Government.
