By Umar Salam.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has announced the temporary suspension of its street protest demanding the release of its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky from detention.
The new development is perceived to be connected with the recent proscription of the sect by the Federal Government.
INSIDER reported last week that the Federal Government had obtained an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court Abuja, proscribing the group.
Justice Nkeonye Maha, in her ruling, designated the activities of the IMN as “acts of terrorism and illegality.”
The IMN, in a statement issued to the press today by its President of Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa, stated that the temporary suspension of its street protest was to give room for “new openings into the resolution of the problems, especially the court case instituted by our lawyers on the proscription order made by the federal government this week.”
The statement added that the group took the step in good faith “out of respect for some eminent people and groups whose input in the resolution of the problems appear genuine.”
It expressed hopes of finding amicable solution to the crisis surrounding the continued detention of its leader, Sheik Elzakzaky.
The IMN further disassociated itself from any protest likely to occur anywhere in country.
“If at all any protests occur anywhere in the country, it might be this notice hasn’t reached those in the field or this message is misunderstood or it is some security agents who are mischievously behind it as they have been doing in an attempt to smear our image and be seen as unruly people rather than as victims of savage oppression since 2015”, the statement said.