Shiites: "Police, DSS want to exterminate us" - sect alleges

The Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria has alleged that there is a grand plan by the Nigeria Police and the Department of Security Services (DSS) to exterminate them.

In a statement signed by the group spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, on Monday April 4, 2016, Shiites said the Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and other bigwigs of the security agencies held a meeting wherein they deliberated on the need to crush the IMN once and for all before the month of Ramadan. 

"According to them all efforts carried out to exterminate the Movement so far will come to naught if the annual Quds day rally is staged anywhere in Nigeria again," the group alleged.

Shiites said as a result of this plan, of the grand onslaught on the IMN, some Muslim clerics have been commissioned to add momentum to their 'hate campaigns' against Shia in all their preaching sessions. 

"This treacherous act has already started in earnest in various mosques across the country. One of such Sheikhs on the payroll of the government was even heard saying to those around him, “Leave them (Shiites) they will be finished off in the next two weeks.”

"We will like to inform the public that, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is at the receiving end of the evil machinations of the government. By now those who are opposed to any peaceful resolution of Zaria massacre by the military are seen clearly in their true colors," the statement said.

"Notwithstanding we will keep on pressing for our demands that, punishment be meted out on the military that unjustly and without due process killed innocent Nigerians who are followers of Sheikh Zakzaky from 12-14 December, 2015 in Zaria. We still demand that our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky be released unconditionally, since after over four months the authorities have failed to accuse him of committing any crime."