Leaders of the Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky- led Shi’ites group, otherwise known as Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), have raised the alarm over alleged plans by the Kaduna State government to demolish 48 of their structures across the state.
Addressing newsmen on the development in Kaduna yesterday, one of the movement’s leaders, Engineer Yunusa Lawal who was flanked by other leaders, said the planned demolition was not only illegal, but vindictive, as the only reason given by the government was that IMN had been banned.
Lawal said though the Islamic Movement was yet to receive any notice of demolition from the Kaduna State government or any of its agencies, it stumbled on a leaked memo where the director general of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Ismail Umaru-Dikko, was seeking approval of Governor El-Rufai to carry out the demolition.
He said; “We are constrained by the memo to address you arising from the premeditated attempt/approval given to carry out the demolition exercise.
“It is baffling to note the manner and timing of the proposed exercise! Could it be part of Mr. Dikko’s severance package? The DG KASUPDA and his cohorts should know that their intention to destroy people’s properties/structures is evil and could be consequential sooner or later.
“It was noticed from the memo, 48 structures belonging to the Islamic movement are 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, seven 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.
“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 is tantamount to infringement of our fundamental human rights as citizens and indigenes of Kaduna State.
“From the memo, the acronym ‘IM’ is alien to the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Allamah, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakkaky (H) and members of the movement have their various hard earned properties/structures as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
we would like to seize this opportunity to call on the government to release the International passport of our leader, Sayid, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and that of his wife, Malama Zeenatudeen Ibrahim, without further delay to enable them seek medical treatment abroad. We also demand the release of hundreds of our members that are in detention centres across the country,” Lawal said.
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