Muslim, Christian communities protest against Shiites in Kaduna

Shiites

There was tension in Saminaka, Headquarters of Lere Local Council area of Kaduna State yesterday, following protests by the Christian and Muslim communities against an Islamic sect.
The protest was against the building of a new site in the area by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites.The provincial pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Oludare Ojo, who wrote to the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the security agencies, urged government to intervene to avert another bloodshed.

Ojo said the location of the site was too close to the church, adding “They are not comfortable since it is located directly in front of the church.”

According to him, “This project has been abandoned for over seven years and we believe it was due to the issue the
Church raised against them in 2009
The pastor said his Church signed an agreement with the group in 2009, a copy of which he attached, adding that with the recent incidents in the country surrounding the movement, its proximity to the Church was a threat.

Also, Muslim clerics in the area have alerted the Sarkin Saminaka and security agencies of threats by members of the community to forcefully pull down the site if urgent action is not taken.

Meanwhile, Shiite’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said: “When we were with other Muslims, they said they don’t want us and that is why we decided to build our centre here. The building is just an Islamic centre. We also have an Islamic school there in Saminaka. People who are against us, like the Izaila, those muslims who go on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia are the one against us. We have a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).”

But I “cannot categorically say that we have a building plan from the state’s planning agency. We got an order that the building should be stopped. I don’t think any true Christian would be against us.”

Meanwhile, a civil society group, Sovereign Rights Coalition (SRC), yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, urging the Federal Government to severe diplomatic ties with Iran.

Led by its National Coordinator, Daniel Obaje, the group took its protest to the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

They accused Iran of supporting the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as the Shiites, led by Ibraheem El-Zakzakky, which last year attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Brig. Gen. Tukur Buratai in Kaduna.

The group also called for the accelerated prosecution of El-Zakzakky and other Shiites involved in the December 2015 attack.Musa explained that the month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar is a period of mourning of the killing of the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Husain in the year 61 AH (680 AD).