Shiites: Sect says they are not forming alliance with Boko Haram

The Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria also known as Shiites has said that contrary to the Nigeria security forces claims, they are not forming an alliance with Boko Haram insurgents.

In a statement signed by the group spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, on Monday, March 4 2016, the group said in the past few days they have received some intelligence reports dished out by the security agents insinuating that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is planning a coalition with the terrorist organization, Boko Haram.

“The intelligence report further indicated that due to the said ‘strategic alliance with Boko Haram, attacks will be carried out on military formations and other government buildings. Ordinarily we wouldn’t have even reacted to this latest ‘intelligence report’ had it not been due to the frequency with which the report is being peddled across the intelligence community, since we have in the past reiterated our stance vis-à-vis terrorism and terrorist groups,” the group said.

While distancing itself from any attempt to associate it with violence and other militant activities, Shiites said their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has said it many times without number that: “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 for 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 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,” the group said.

“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 programs now commonly known in many Nigerian villages, towns and cities and with all its activities peacefully and transparently conducted,” the statement said.

The group said there was no basis for any comparison with the Boko Haram that is a terrorist organization 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 agent’s term ‘strategic alliance,” the statement added.

Shiites said they make bold to issue the statement because the history of security agencies world over is known for false flag operations adding that Nigeria is inclusive.