We Have No links With Boko Haram Sect- Shiite

A statement signed by the spokesman of the sect, Ibrahim Musa, stated that those propagating that the sect is another Boko Haram in the making or are collaborating with the terrorist group should drop the notions.

The statement which noted that the weapon of the Shiite sect is good reasoning and truth, added that their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has in the past 36 years, led the people in conducting peaceful affairs.

The statement read, “We distance the IMN from any attempt to associate it with violence and other militant activities. Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, our revered leader, has said it many times without number that:

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“Our weapon is positive reasoning, truth and good conduct. Guns are for the reckless and foolhardy ones. We have been conducting our affairs peacefully, calling people to the truth in the last 36 years.

“So you cannot come overnight and attribute violence to us that we now resort to killing people. This is impossible. We save lives not kill them.

“This is the teaching of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky for the past almost four decades and we will not derail from that in the face of many provocations as wished by the Nigerian government and its security agents.

“We hereby state categorically that there are no connections or any links whatsoever between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and Boko Haram.

“IMN in the first place is not the creation of any foreign security agencies, which is common with all the various terrorist groups globally. It was borne out of the desire of Muslims to live according to the teachings of Islam.

“IMN has been around at least in Nigeria for almost four decades now, with its various educational programmes now commonly known in many Nigerian villages, towns and cities and with all its activities peacefully and transparently conducted.

“Hence, there is no basis for any comparison with the Boko Haram that is a terrorist organisation and a creation of global imperialism with the intention of tarnishing the image of Islam.

“Moreover, it is the same so called Boko Haram that bombed our brothers and sisters during an Ashura procession in Potiskum, Yobe State in 2014 and also sent suicide bombers to the Arba’een trek along Kano –Zaria highway killing many innocent people, including women and children.

“It beats any sane imagination that IMN will now turn to the same group in what the intelligence agents term ‘strategic alliance.’

“The IMN will like to reiterate its stance once again; we reject any violence or militant attack on anybody or any place in our name. We are not and will never become, act or relate with any terrorist group.

“We make bold this statement because the history of security agencies the world over is known for false flag operations, Nigeria inclusive; where a violent attack will be carried out somewhere and innocent people will be accused of the crime. Islam is a religion of peace and is not associated with violence; therefore it is illogical to associate killings and violence to true followers of Islam.”