IMN Shiites: Group Lauds Kaduna State White Paper On Zaria Clashes for Exonerating Nigerian Army

The Good Governance Initiative (GGI) has described the release of Kaduna State Government's White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the clash between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the Nigerian Army as a welcome development.

The group also congratulated the Nigerian Army which was exoneratedby the White paper, saying Nigerians never doubted that it acted within its mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

According to a statement signed by GGI Co-ordinator, Uche Madu John, Nigerians will continue to support the army in its quest to protect law abiding citizens from any form of aggressor.

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He urged the Federal Government to immediately issue a directive for all security and military services to treat the IMN as a terror group while anyone caught committing a crime in its name must be tried under the relevant anti-terror legislations.

The statement reads partly, "We laud the exoneration of the Nigerian Army, which was cleared of any wrongdoing as an institution and we see this as the removal of obstacles that terrorist sponsors had tried to place in the way of the army to reduce its ability to protect NIgerians.

"The White Paper has laid to rest the true nature and status of IMN as an insurgent group whose members bear arms and had refused to evacuate Gyallesu area of Zaria, Kaduna state ahead of the referenced military operation in the report.

"We hope that those that have been mounting propaganda on behalf of IMN, including international contractors like Amnesty International, would now accept the position stated in the document that the Nigerian Army abided by its Rules of Engagement in dealing with the terrorist organisation."

He further urged judicial officers to familiarise themselves with this document especially since more IMN members could soon be charged to court over their role in the group's decades of insurgency against the Nigerian state.

The statement reads further, "GGI urges the Federal Government to immediately implement the aspect of the White Paper that fall within its purview to ensure that the menace of the IMN and any other groups they may mutate into can be holistically dealt with since it is not all the states of the federation that can marshal the political will to tackle insurgency the way Kaduna has done."

Protesters Storm Abuja High Court Over judgement Freeing El-Zakzakky

Thousands of angry protesters on Monday stormed the premises of the federal high court Abuja to protest the judgement of the court which ordered the unconditional release of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky from custody.

The prolawyers numbering about 500 carried various placards with inscription such as. "Kolawole should go, we are tired of bad judgement" among others under the banner of the Coalition on Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) and other Civil Society groups expressed concern over the judgement by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, saying it was done "without recourse to the consequences that this dangerous precedence would have on law enforcement, security, anti-terror fight, terrorism, extremism and secessionist movements in Nigeria."

Addressing the protest, CGGCI National President, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi said the "judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigeria by legalizing terrorism while leaving the rest of us at risk of losing our lives."

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He described the judgement as ridiculous, wondering how the judge could order the release of someone who poses grave security risk to the society through his extreme brand of foreign backed radicalization program in the name of religion.

He said, Nigerians are ever ready to do the needful in safeguarding the future of our dear nation and hence would demand that Justice Kolawole be investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He said, "In the space of one week, the judiciary has ordered dangerous fanatics and demagogues to be returned to the streets to resume brainwashing, radicalizing and militarizing vulnerable youths in the population. This could have only been in keeping with fulfilling obligations entered into for less than honourable considerations even as we cannot rule out a judiciary that is taking its pound of flesh from an executive arm that has exposed the sleaze on its soiled bench.

"If the entire judiciary has activated its vendetta against the security agencies that they see as the executive arm, the precedence set by Justice Gabriel Kolawole took things to the ridiculous by awarding N50 million of tax payers'money to finance IMN's radicalisation programme while also asking that the police further deploy its personnel to protect a man whose sect members would invariably kill like they had killed soldiers and policemen in recent past.

"This judge also failed to realize the weight of his utterance that has basically ordered the government to build a new headquarters for a proscribed group – we do hope he will keep himself on the bench for when other terror groups approach to demand for the government to build them headquarters.

"The house demolished in Gyellesu, on which the directive to build a new one for this demagogue, originally belonged to Alhaji Ismail Gwarzo the DG NSO under late General Sani Abacha. El-Zakyzaky was given the seized house by Gen Abdulsalam because people of Babban Dodo had at time also rebelled against IMN occupation which made them to burn his initial hub after he was released from another arrest for insurrection."

Speaking further, Ogenyi said, "justice Kolawole has murdered sleep. He did this confidently because security agencies under obligation use taxpayers' money to protect him and other judges, who therefore do not know the magnitude of the threat that terrorism poses to citizens.

The leader of the protest was later asked to write a properly addressed letter to the Chief Registrar of the court and submit through their lawyers.

IMN, Iran and New Face of Terrorism, By Abiodun Israel

It is just recently that the so-called 'Arab Spring' was provoked across the Middle-East and North Africa. What appeared to be popular protests on the surface ended up as strategy for regime change in several of these countries. The greater fallout of those protests is instability that replaced the relative peace those nations once knew – Libya, Yemen, Egypt are basket cases while Syria is now the theatre for the world's most confounding proxy wars that began with what trusting citizens thought were simple street protests.

What those who earlier believed in the spontaneity of those early protests have found out is that the larger population responded to populist chants intoned by hidden terrorists among them. No sooner did the protests turned violent than the extremists began killing government forces who in turn responded in kind thereby triggering the disaster that has now engulfed many part of the earth. The refugee crisis from the ill advised kindling of terrorism now threaten to overwhelm Europe.

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Nigeria is facing its own threat of foreign-backed terrorists induced protests with the growing boldness of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) which is actively supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran in pursuit of the spread of Shia brand of Islam.

The extremist group has in recent times been holding series of protest that its leadership apparently aim to use in precipitating nationwide crisis. Similar to the terror cells that operated underground in the Middle-East until they launched with the Arab Spring protests that allowed them metamorphosed into the noxious ISIL, IMN had taken its time to permeate the various sectors in the country – the group has parallel departments that corresponds with government ministries. The structure fits snugly into its disavowal of the Nigerian state and its rejection of the constitutionally guarantied secular state.

It had tested the extremism it would impose on Nigeria on a micro scale in Zaria in Kaduna state where residents and travellers endured years of abuses from IMN extremists. They often obstruct the roads with their processions and totally disregard the resulting hardship this has on other citizens.

But the true confirmation of this group's intention came to light when almost one year ago they made attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, the man entrusted with routing terrorists. That ugly incident in Zaria was likely the IMN's planned precursor for a 'Nigerian Harmattan'. The professional but firm response of the military to that error of judgment should probably be credited for stunting the extremists' rise into a full blown terror group.

Since that incident, IMN has made several attempts to instigate widespread protests, usually with the claim that the protests, marches and treks were to demand the release of its leader, Sheik Ibraheem Alzakyzaky from detention. He is being held for instigating the deadly clashes in the aftermath of the attempt on the COAS' life. 

If clashing with the military has been proven to be sheer idiocy that must not be repeated again, the IMN has simply refused to learn that vital lesson that the military represents Nigeria and as a secular state the country will not allow the dictatorship of a sectarian group or any group for that matter. The Shia group barred its fangs on citizens in October this year during the Ashura procession but soon learnt the hard way that it is dangerous to dare the collective will. They were routed in every city in which they dared to attack Nigerians.

Only a few days ago the extremists turned their attention to a new foe in the quest to undermine the Nigerian state. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) became its latest target. The police reportedly got intelligence that these radicalised persons were moving cache of arms across state boundaries and swiftly moved to prevent these from being put to use. But IMN would not have any of what it perceived as interference from an institution that represents the law and order for a state it does not recognise. It killed policemen in Kano even though the act also came at human costs to the IMN. 

At the burial of its dead members, an IMN leader, Sunusi Koki expressly vowed that its member would not respect the laws of the Federal Government even if it means them paying the ultimate price. He went on to charge them to continue to resist – a code word for continuing to attack security agencies.

The brazenness of these extremists can only be understood in the context of the support that Iran is actively given them. The logistics, funding and arms flowing from Iran to the extremists is a logical explanation for why they think they are ready to fight Nigeria's military. That country, through the utterances of its senior officials, including past and present ambassadors, have given IMN members the false hopes that it would invade Nigeria once they can be suicidal enough to get as many as possible of their members killed in clashes with state agencies.

Iran in conjunction with the elite wing of the IMN mount intense propaganda to make extremist look like the victim in what can only be a ploy to limit the ability of Nigeria's security agencies from checking these excesses – it is an equivalent of the no-fly zone that had in other unfortunate countries given terrorists the upper hand to topple government. Since the clash with NPF in Kano this propaganda has only intensified even as the threat of unleashing more mayhem with protests and treks increases.

The world may be struggling to understand what went wrong for the seeming popular protests in the Arab Spring to be hijacked by terrorist but the scenario is playing out before our very eyes again here in Nigeria where IMN is expanding a terror network it imported from Iran. Nations are being misled into seeing IMN rebels as victims as evident in the statement from the United States that made condemnation without adequate understanding of the facts.

If another fiasco must be avoided the Iranian-IMN aggression in Nigeria must be understood and treated as what it is, the new face of terrorism.

Abiodun writes from UI, Oyi State.

Nigerians in diaspora want Trump to end terrorism in Africa

Nigerians in the diaspora have expressed the hope that US President-elect, Mr Donald Trump will help end terrorism in Africa even as they identified the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as a group that must be curtailed by the incoming American government.

The Nigerians based in the United States of America who spoke through More Voices Against Terrorism however condemned a statement issued by the US State Department that criticised the Nigerian Police handling of the Shiites sectarian clashes with security agencies and recently the killing of officers going about their businesses. 

Trump drew international ire as the republican candidate when he vowed decisive action against radical Islam if elected.

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A statement by Angela Bala, More Voices Against Terrorism’s Head of Administration said the group is “hopeful that the incoming administration of President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, which shown remarkable understanding of radical Islam would put the IMN on the terror list and compel Iran to stop exporting its evil to the African continent.

“Even as we await such positive development, we urge the State Department to withdraw its offensive statements in favour of IMN and to desist from further issuing such,” it demanded.

The Group described the State Department’s statement as alarming for openly castigating the Federal Government while supporting the outlawed IMN, which it described as an affiliate of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

More Voices Against Terrorism lamented that “Much as the statement postured to have addressed both sides to the Kano clash that left several Nigerians dead, we find it absurd that the US State Department spoke of the IMN without acknowledging its ties with terrorism or its relationship with Iran that is known to be a state sponsor of terrorism.

“As a body in the US, More Voices Against Terrorism is very aware that the entire members and leadership of the IMN would have been hauled before a law court if they try a tenth of what they do in Nigeria on a daily basis yet the United States has decided to imbue them with more confidence to delude them that the world is in support of the crimes they are committing.

“This can only end badly for the entire human race same way a delay in designating Boko Haram as a terror group is haunting the world today.

“It is worrisome that the same country that readily incinerates school children and wedding parties with drone fired Hellfire Missiles whenever its marines as much as come under fire in other sovereign nations is now the one questioning the right of Nigeria’s security forces to deal with known terrorists.

“It should be placed on record that any administration that gives credence to terrorism above the rights of overwhelming segment of humanity, comprising of women and children who are the worst hit by terrorism all over the world, is to return the human race to the nasty state of nature where life is crude, nasty and brutish.

“That the US designates Iran as state sponsor of terrorism and turns around to support Iranian puppets in Nigeria betrays a deficit in thinking that can only lead to the worrisome conclusion that the long term plan is to replicate the kind of confusing proxies’ wars ongoing in Syria overthere in Nigeria. We warn that the outcome of such attempts would be calamitous as the IMN terrorists would eventually ply their wares on US soil and in other condoning countries within the shortest time possible.

“We urge a stop to the duplicity of the State Department. Its double standard is confirmed by the highly repulsive and condemnable act in which its statements are issued and distributed through the IMN spokesman in Nigeria. This is simply unfair, unjust and a very biased position against Nigerians that have been hit hard by IMN activities,” the group stated.

US Queries Nigeria Over 300 Shiite Killing As Right Group Asks UN To Designate IMN As Terror Group

The killing of over 300 Shiite  Islamic movement has attracted the attention of the United State of America.

The Us according to Punch Newspaper has called on the Federal Government to account for the deaths of 300 Shi’ite members killed last December. 

This is even as a human rights group, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has called on the United Nation mission in Nigeria to prevail on the United Nations General Assembly to designate the IMN as a terrorist organization

On December 15, 2015, following clashes between members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria and security forces in Zaria, Kaduna State, at least 300 Shi’ites were reportedly killed.

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In a statement from the US Embassy Information Office on Friday in Abuja, the country expressed deep concern over the latest clash between the police and the Shi’ite members in Kano, describing the security agency’s response to the procession as “disproportionate.”

Hence, it called for calmness, restraint and communication between the Shi’ite members and government authorities.

The US said the Shi’ite group, like other religious groups, had the “right to assemble, peacefully express their religious beliefs, and mark their celebrations.”

The US admonished the Federal Government to protect and defend these rights.

It said, “The US is deeply concerned by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians during clashes between individuals participating in a Shia procession and the Nigerian Police Force in Kano State on November 14.

“While the matter is still under investigation, we are troubled by the apparent disproportionate response by the police.”

The US also called on members of the IMN and all citizens to respect the rule of law and cooperate with the police in their attempt to maintain public order.

“We also call on the Nigerian government to conduct a transparent investigation of the latest incidents and bring to account anyone responsible for violating the law,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, a human rights group, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET has called on the United Nation mission in Nigeria to prevail on the United Nations General Assembly to designate the IMN as a terrorist organization

Group Advocates Nationwide Ban On IMN

Following the recent order by the Kaduna State government outlawing the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) from operating in the state, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has urged the federal government to move a step better by placing a nation wide ban on the activities of the sect.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, CATE Secretary General Daniel Obaje said gave reasons why the federal government must ensure strict enforcement of IMN ban.

He described the ban on IMN by Kaduna state government as a welcome development, adding that it came at the right time given the series of activities that members of the sect had planned to undermine security in not just Kaduna state but across the country.

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He said CATE reaffirms its strong stance for religious freedom of all Nigerians; but that is to the extent that individuals practice their faith without compromising the wellbeing of others; without imposing their beliefs on adherents of other faiths; and without coagulating into entities intended to undermine the secularity handed down by our founding fathers.

According to him, IMN has consistently questioned the legitimacy of Nigeria to exist as a country.

He said, "It is in this light that we urge the Federal Government to follow the example set in Kaduna state by immediately outlawing the IMN nationwide and to pursue criminal charges against anyone that continues to maintain the group, remains its member or attempt to reorganize it under a new name or identity.

"Because there have been previous concerns that remnants of the Boko Haram terror group are ditching their sectarian affiliation and joining IMN, the Federal Government should immediately mandate security agencies to dismantle the IMN's network, cells and infrastructure as a way of ensuring they are unable to resurface as a more deadly terror group.

"Those associated with the proscribed group should be kept under close security watch with a requirement that they are not allowed to travel abroad to countries where they could get advanced military training and further radicalisation."

He urged the Federal Government in conjunction with the Kaduna state government to immediately order a freeze on bank accounts illegally operated by the banned group since an organization that has no legal existence should not be able to meet the KYC requirements of banking institutions.

According to Obaje, "In this regard, the ban on IMN should extend to its subsidiaries and affiliate organizations founded on the same model and ideology. Further directives must be issued to security agencies with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) being in the lead of unravelling how much foreign funds come to the IMN and if they have link to international terror financing. 

We appeal to the judiciary not to overlook national interest in entertaining suits that IMN sympathizers would institute in their bid to overturn this ban.

"We urge government at all levels to identify and outlaw other extremists groups existing in the country. For this purpose, a database of such groups should be created and made public to discourage citizens from becoming members of, supporting or financing such groups."

He urged the government to begin massive enlightenment campaigns to promote religious and sectarian tolerance among the population.

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El-Zakzakky: Why The Law Must Take Its Course, By Alphonsus Okeme

Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzakky, The Leader of
 Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN)
Photo Credit: Dailypost

“Nigeria is pouring fuel on fire.” This is the recent instigative catch-phrase or the inflammatory remarks of immediate past Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Saeed Koozechi over the detention of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzakky by Nigerian security agents.

The withdrawal of Ambassador Saeed Koozechi from Nigeria and his replacement with another comrade, Ambassador Morteza Rahimi Zarchi signifies the desperation of President Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran to keep an eye on Nigeria. Probably, Iran or the Nigerian government is misreading the minds of the people. Nigerians want no further official links with Iran and its Embassy in Abuja. The Embassy should be closed and further diplomatic ties with Iran should be severed.

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If former Iranian Ambassador Koozechi could “pour fuel on fire” in Nigeria, his successor has the same briefs. Fuel by its nature is extremely inflammable. Added to fire, anybody can guess the consequences. It’s like wild fire experienced by some western countries in the recent past, which consumed a whole Naval Base in Russia.

The Republic of Iran, with its notorious status as founders of Islamic State (ISIS) and global terrorism is making no pretensions about its sponsorship of such acts of terror in Nigeria. The quoted statement unfortunately attributed to the withdrawn Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Saeed Koozechi, abundantly justifies his country’s veiled sponsorship of terrorism in Nigeria in all its ramifications.

Koozechi’s diplomatic gut in Nigeria demoralizes. But more to it, his remarks portrayed Nigeria as a nation which has buried its pride and competencies to interrogate demonic interference with the sovereign rights of her citizens.

It’s extremely annoying dimension was Koozechi’s explicit undiplomatic undermining of efforts of the Nigerian government over the Shiites/IMN clash with Nigerian soldiers in Zaria, December 2015. Nigerian government (Kaduna state) reacted to the incident by setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI).

While the JCI, an initiative of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai was probing the incidence, the Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also waded into the incidence by setting up a probe panel. But a foreign ambassador to Nigeria could not wait for the verdicts of the probes by these lawful institutions, but preferred to incite his comrades in noxious religious fanaticism to unleash “fire” on Nigeria.

Iran has undisputed links with Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the country, which it has confirmed through numerous publications, as its West African wing of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Legitimately too and overlooking the permissible, but shameful flaws on the part of Nigerian state, assignments of foreign missions in any country is strictly diplomatic to mainly promote healthy relationships among countries under the umbrella of United Nations (UN) of the world.

What is certain is that it does not extend to their Excellencies on foreign missions to appropriate to themselves the laxity and disreputable, offensive role of issuing inciting and inflammatory comments on their host countries’ very sensitive security issues. A foreign mission anywhere in the world is not a blank script.

It lucidly defines limits and extents such foreign countries can interfere into the internal affairs of their host. But Ambassador Koozechi mindlessly overstretched it in Nigeria.

He instigated the violent Shiites members of the IMN, famed for their untamed flair for violence to rise up against the Nigerian government and her people for the detention of its Leader in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzzaky. This is undiplomatic. It was a wonderful and murderous impunity from a diplomat and reveals Iran’s real intentions on Nigeria.

It calls to question whether Nigeria’s intelligence security apparatus is in coma or in an emergency ward in an unnamed hospital in Abuja, the seat of Nigeria’s federal government. But if they deny this assertion, it means, one of these two propositions. It is either they are in deep slumber or stone dead, ultimately dazed with some liquor on their duty posts. Iranian presence is still sighted in Abuja, where it possibly and inconspicuously incites more protests to crudely press for the release of IMN leader in Nigeria.

Nigerian security agencies fear a diplomatic row, but allow an Iranian Ambassador to freely trudge on the rights of Nigerians to the extent of undermining the country’s sovereignty with such acerbic and vitriolic comments. It’s amazing that security agents could not do as little as inviting him for explanation before his redeployment. Nigeria is really a wonderful country!

No Nigerian ambassador or anyone on such foreign mission in another country can assume such liberty to dabble into his host country’s internal and delicate security affairs. Not with such instigative intent as typified by Koozechi without being appropriately reproached.

However, Ambassador Koozechi and his Iranian bosses cannot rise above the Nigerian government or its institutions. The Kaduna State JCI on the IMN/ soldiers clash chaired by Hon. Justice Mohammed Garba submitted its report on the crisis since July 15, 2016.

A nine-member White paper drafting committee has also been set up by Governor el Rufai. While awaiting the white paper, the JCI’s report has clearly indicted the Leader of the Shiites/IMN, Sheik El-Zakzakky and his incensed members for the sustained acts of lawlessness and particularly, the unlawful attack on the convoy of the COAS, Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria.

Parts of the panel’s report states inter-alia; “Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He therefore bears responsibility for all acts of lawlessness committed by the organization and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted.”

Demonstrating their unrepentant passion for violence in the guise of religiosity, the report admitted that even calls by Governor el-Rufai to Sheik El-Zakzakky to restrain or prevail on his followers to open the aisle for the COAS were rebuffed. El=Zakzakky’s intervention at that critical hour would have saved the souls and lives of Nigerians on both sides, wasted in IMN’s violent confrontation with the Nigerian army. But he irreligiously declined.

The JCI repeated in several paragraphs of the report that the IMN leader and his adherents have become an epitome of outlaws in that part of the country, at different times. The COAS incident only exposed their violent insanity and their prosecution would serve as deterrence.

In spite of the Constitutional provision for freedom of worship, religious sects have no reason to consider it a license to trample on the fundamental rights of other Nigerians to enjoy their prescribed, lawful liberties.

The JCI frowned that; “From the testimonies of the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Police, groups such as the Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), communities such as Gyallesu Community, Sabon-Gari community and a host of others, including individuals, it is clear that the menace of the IMN activities had been going on (seemingly unchallenged) for quite a long time.”

Notwithstanding the assailing guilt, the Shiites or IMN in Nigeria and their sponsors organized fresh protests. They disparaged the report as biased and lopsided, even though the JCI submitted a report widely hailed as impartial.

But while they delighted in their fantasy of unchallenged lawlessness, it blindfolded them against the new order in Nigeria. The same damning verdict handed over to the IMN by the JCI was separately re-echoed by another independent body- the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

It urged security agents to expedite action on the trial of members of the IMN, who assailed the convoy of COAS in a dismissive affront on Nigerian laws. The verdicts of these two separate bodies could not have necessarily skipped the truth.

What remains certain is that the IMN members transgressed the laws of the land. The COAS incident is not the first of such transgressions. The Shiites in Nigeria have a reputation for this religious indecency and easy resort to unprovoked violence.

Security agents, especially the DSS would do Nigerians a favour by arraigning Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzakky and suspected Shiites members to court for alleged willful breach of national security. This should be done immediately because during the Shiites clash with the army and its aftermath, large cache of arms and ammunitions have been found in the possession of IMN members. Its an indication of their sponsorship by Iran, which warranted their confrontation of a constituted authority. Iran aims to destabilize the whole West African region and governments of countries in this region should be watchful.

In the meantime, Nigeria is no longer a pariah state in the comity of nations, as stated by President Buhari in his 2016 Independence Day speech and diplomats who brazenly traduce UN ethical code, like Koozechi, in host countries should be severely reproved by the world body.

Security agents should not only ensure that the Iranian Embassy in Nigeria is closed, but its redeployed Ambassador, Saeed Koozechi, who presented himself as a spy and certified agent of ISIS in Nigeria, be prosecuted. Iran is secretly plotting to ignite a religious crisis in Nigeria worse than the experience of Somalia, Syria and the rest.

In addition, DSS and NIA should thoroughly investigate their activities in Nigeria in the last few years to halt such further abrasions on the sovereign rights of a nation.

But if Nigeria’s security agencies have taken Koozechi’s remarks for granted, a coalition of human rights groups and the National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace, numbering over 500 civil society groups are getting increasingly uneasy that Nigeria still maintains an Iranian Embassy in the country to erode the gains the Nigerian military has made over terrorism. Their massive protest to the Iranian Embassy in Abuja a few days ago sufficiently conveys this message.

Okeme , Executive Director, National Peace Network contributed this article from Lagos.