The police command in Kaduna says it has banned all forms of unlawful gathering by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, including its planned Ashura procession.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, announced the ban in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.

Mr Hassan said, “The command has banned every manner of illegal protest in the state. This is coming on the heels of a received intelligence indicating that the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shi’ite, are planning a procession to mark the 2024 Islamic Ashura Day ceremony.

“It is an undeniable fact that the said ritual practice has in the recent past been characterised by unimaginable violence leading to the destruction of properties, injuries to persons and even loss of lives. It is against this backdrop that the police command is warning the said sect members, who were since proscribed by law, to drop such a procession idea.” 

Mr Hassan said the  command would not hesitate to bear the full weight of the law on any person or group, especially the outlawed IMN members, that dared to violate the ban.

He said the police commissioner, Ali Dabigi, has called on all law-abiding persons to go about their lawful endeavours without fear. He equally said that the hard-earned relative peace in the state can never be compromised by the selfish deviance of a few “renegades.”

(NAN)