Shi’ites deny allegations of planned retaliation for members killed in Kaduna

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria better known as Shi’ites have debunked reports of planned reprisal attacks on police operatives over the killing of their members in Kaduna recently.

This was in reaction to a notice of ‘Police wireless message’ by the Borno State Police Command.

The intelligence message Referenced CB.0900/BRS/VOL.12/60 released at 11:30 am on 9th April, 2024 was circulated to all police formations across the State, with additional instruction to snap and share among operation bases commanders for quick dissemination.

The source of the message according to the Command warned that the “armed wing” of the movement is planning to attack police operatives at vulnerable locations, especially; hotels, beer parlours, black spots, residences and check points among others.

Reacting, the movement, in a statement on Saturday by Professor I. H. Mshelgaru, a member of the movement, denied the allegations, saying it would never do what would negatively affect the peace of the public.

The statement read in part: “The Islamic movement led by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H) expressed deep concern on coming across this devious claim and therefore wishes to refute this message as false.

“We want to categorically inform the general public that there is no plan to avenge the killings of the seven of our innocent brothers killed in Kaduna and Zaria eight days ago, be it on the police or any other organization or individual. This shameful ‘intelligence’ surprisingly, came from the police headquarters in Maiduguri, almost 800 kilometers away from Kaduna where the last killings occurred.

“It is not willing to avenge, but even if it were to do so, it is illogical, unreasonable and incompatible to avenge a crime committed in Kaduna by people very well known to the movement on innocent police operatives in corners of Borno State.

“It is equally ridiculous for the Nigeria police to claim that the movement has an armed wing, when the whole world had witnessed the killing of thousands of brothers and sisters including the Zaria 2014 and 2015 massacres by the security without incurring even a single injury or casualty.”