*Say 7 other buildings demolished yesterday
*Call on public to prevail to prevent bloodshed
*Say their group is not IMN
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, have condemned the early Sunday morning demolishing of eight property linked to their members within Kaduna metropolis, with one of the affected buildings, a hospital, which had patients on admission.
Briefing the press yesterday in Kaduna, the Islamic group called on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai to abandon the planned demolition of 40 other houses linked to their members.
Reading the text of the briefing on behalf of the group, Mal. Aliyu Umar said that, ” We cannot fold our hands, we must talk. We are bonafide citizens of Nigeria. el-Rufai is not a bonafide citizens than me. He is bastardizing everybody,” he said.
According to him, “A leaked memo written and signed by the Director General, KASUPDA (Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority), Ismail Umaru PS/OFF/7A/Z1/338 (Pg 71), dated 20th April 2023, addressed to the PPS (Principal Private Secretary of the Governor), through the Commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Kaduna State, on the above subject matter is relevant
“It is noticed from the memo, 48 structures belonging to the Islamic movement is earmarked for demolition across the state; 1,860 security personnel will be involved and N20,253,500 will be the cost of the demolition exercise.
“The sinister motive is to particularly clamp down on the Islamic movement once again. To cover up the deception for the exercise, 7 other locations were earmarked, but
“None of those locations will cost up to N2,500,000 and NONE
will require above 180 security personnel to execute! The total cost approved for the exercise
is N29,523,500 and the total security personnel required is N2,510,” he said.
He explained that from the memo, the acronym ‘IMN’ is alien to the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Allamah, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and members of the movement have their various hard earned properties/structures as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We wrote a rejoinder / release on Thursday 18th May, 2023 requesting the Kaduna State
Government and people of conscious to prevail on the El-Rufai Government to stop the unholy
demolition exercise few days to handing over to allow for peace and tranquility. Copies were
dispatched to the Kaduna State, Commissioner of Police, DSS, Speaker House of Assembly and
Office of Governor. But Alas!
“To our dismay we were woken up around 1:00am this morning to witness the sequential demolition of our structures. Al-Kauthar Clinic, Fudiyya Danmadami, Fudiyya Rimi, Fudiyya Tudun wada and the personal house of a brother Alh. Musa Birnin Yero were all destroyed!! No Notice was served on any of our properties!!!”
He said that it is “therefore, disheartening to observe that the main purpose of this demolition exercise it to again subjugate and oppress members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. We view this as an act of provocation and suppression that tantamount to the infringement of our fundamental
human rights as citizens and indigenes of Kaduna State.
“Furthermore, we would like to seize this opportunity to call on the Government to release the
International passport of our leader, Sayyid, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and that of his wife, Malama Zeenatudeen Ibrahim, without further delay to enable them seek medical treatment abroad. We also demand for the release of hundreds of our members that are in
detention centres across the country,” he said.
Speaking outside the text of the briefing, he alleged that immediately they finished demolishing the hospital, they went to their school, descended and demolished everything.
“From there, they went to another school in Tidunwada, a storey building, which they went and brought down
“They went to Kawo a brother’s house, who has the picture of Sheikh Zakzaky pasted there, that was his offence, his house was brought down,” he explained.
Speaking further, he alleged that their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has been detained 11 times, taken to court nine times, since 1979 till date.
“He always wins. He has never been convicted, always defeating the government.
“This time he was discharged, all the 500 members accused were discharged,” he pointed out.
He said that they are not violent, and they will continue to follow the path of peace by seeking justice at the courts.
“Why must he take that position as if he is above the law.
“We are calling on people of conscience to prevail on them to stop.
“They said 48 structures would be demolished, already eight are down, they should stop to prevent bloodshed.
“People may want to react. Enough is enough, this must stop. Since 2015, there is no month they won’t kill our members. We are not IMN. We are Islamic Movement in Nigeria, but we are not IMN, otherwise, you can call us the Shiites if you like,” he declared.
