Following an unreserved apology tendered by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) to the Nigerian Army for the altercation that threatened the life of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai in December, 2015, in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Arewa Youth Leaders Forum had on Saturday pleaded that members of the Sect including their leader, Sheikh El-Zakhzaky be pardoned.
In a statement which was issued by the Forum immediately after a roundtable dialogue on Saturday which was made available to DAILY POST in Abuja, the group noted that they should be pardon on the condition that such ugly situation would not happen again.
“We resolved at our roundtable in Abuja on Saturday, February 5, 2016 to apologize to the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Government and beg for pardon for detained members of the (Shiite) sect to be released with a promise not to engage in further acts of terrorism.” The statement noted.
The statement which was signed by the Forum’s National President, Isah Ocheja maintained that they will reach out to the National Assembly, Traditional Rulers and sensitise northern parents on dangers of radicalising children which they said spell doom for the future.
“We have plans to reach out to the National Assembly while consultations would be embarked upon with traditional rulers on why no individual or group of persons should allow their children to be indoctrinated and radicalised to commit any act of terrorism,” the statement said.
The Forum condemned Iranian Ambassador’s solidarity with the sect which was manifested in his utterances that has pitched the peace loving Northerners against each other, stressing that the development gave the sects sagacity to challenge military authorities.
“The solidarity extended to the region and the sect by the Iranian authority as they demanded that Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Saeed Koozechi must desist from making utterances that cast the population of northern Nigeria that has been known to be peace loving over the years as terrorists and promoters of extreme sectarian views”, it noted.
Meanwhile, the forum having taken cognizance of President Buhari’s effort at tackling terrorism in the last 9 months, passed a vote of confidence on his administration.
They added that it was time Mr. President initiates an executive bill to the National Assembly, prohibiting terrorism related activities of any religious group while advising that such erring group should be declared persona non grata.
The statement described as unfortunate those behind Videos calling for aggression against the state, noting that those involved should give peace a chance and apologise to the government.
“Whoever is in the video that is in circulation should apologize to Nigerians, our security agencies and all men of goodwill who had hitherto supported and sympathized with them before now”, it said.
“The video has proven that there is more to the Shiite’s grand scheming to unleash mayhem on the state and that its followers in past security incidents over the years must be thoroughly investigated,” the statement added.
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