The Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites, has flayed and distanced itself from the activities of the Boko Haram sect, insisting that they share nothing in common.
The group was refuting an insinuation by former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, that the movement had a linkage with the terrorist group.
In a statement by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, the movement said the attention of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has been drawn to a piece titled, Nigeria’s Treatment of Shia Minority Recalls that of Boko Haram, written by a former American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell posted on the website of the American think-tank organisation, Council on Foreign Relations, which gained wide coverage in Nigeria’s media.
According to him, the erstwhile envoy drew similarities between the dreaded Boko Haram and the Islamic Movement, under the able leadership of our illegally detained leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
Musa said that the remark was a deliberate blackmail, witch-hunt and mischief inherently being pursued against the IMN.
He described Campbell’s assertion that there were striking ideological similarities between IMN and Boko Haram as “most unfortunate.