Kaduna orders arrest, prosecution of Shi’ia spokesman

The Kaduna state government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of Ibrahim Musa, spokesman of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) — sect it declared illegal on Friday.

A few hours after the sect was declared illegal, Musa publicly admitted that he was a member and identified himself as the spokesman.

The state government therefore directed the commissioner of police to ensure that Musa is promptly arrested, and prosecuted by the Kaduna state attorney-general and commissioner of justice.

It directed all security agencies in the state to vigorously enforce the law, saying citizens could not be allowed to wantonly test the laws of the state or act as being above the law.

“The Kaduna state government wishes to reiterate that it fully respects freedom of religion and other rights as guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution,” Samuel Aruwan, spokesman of nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, said in a statement.

“The same Constitution imposes an obligation on government to secure the state and protect every citizen against infringement of their rights by others.

“Drawing on powers vested by Section 45(1) of the Constitution, and Section 97a of the Penal Code, the governor signed an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in the interest of public order and to protect the rights and freedoms of all persons in Kaduna State.”

Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Shi’ia sect, has been in detention since his followers clashed with soldiers in December 2015.