Anthony Nwafor, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nkanu East/West constituency candidate for House of Representatives, has reacted to protests by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria members.
NAN quoted him as urging Nigerians to help President Muhammadu Buhari maintain peace while advising the Federal Government to review the continued detention of the leader of the group, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, after several court orders.
He said that religious leaders in the country owe the society the duty to mentor their followers on the need to obey constituted authorities no matter the level of provocation
“This is the only way the values they teach them can be said to reflect in their daily lives.
“Getting too obsessed with religious loyalty breeds extremism which is what the world is gripped with today,” Nwafor said.
The APC chieftain also appealed the members of the group not to take laws into their hands because their leader was in detention.
Nwafor further urged the sect to stop confronting the Nigerian Army under any guise so that more lives would not be lost.
“The number of lives lost on daily basis to the confrontation between the group and the Nigeria Army is not necessary as the development can be avoided.
“Women, children and youths are made to march on the streets of Abuja to protest, thereby exposing them to the dangers associated with this confrontation with the military.
“Every life is important. Nigerians should learn to present their grievances without creating further problems.”
On Tuesday, the FCT Police Command announced the arrest of some IMN members with 31 bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons being ferried into Abuja.
The command said the members’ plot was to attack innocent citizens, including law enforcement agents deployed to protect lives and property.
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