Nigeria officials raze Muslim group’s buildings

Nigerian authorities have razed buildings belonging to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as a government crackdown on the Muslim group gains force.

According to Press TV, IMN officials said the government forces razed several buildings, which included schools, hospitals, and religious seminaries, in the cities of Zaria and Saminaka in the northern state of Kaduna.

Officials with the Muslim group also said that the latest demolitions took place without prior notification to the group, which they said had done nothing to provoke the government to take such drastic measures against it.

The demolition of IMN buildings comes after the brutal killing of some 100 members of the group, who had gathered on Monday to take part in a religious ceremony ahead of the upcoming Arba’een mourning rituals.

Arba’een marks 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Many more were also injured when government forces fired live rounds and tear gas at Shia mourners taking part in a peaceful march in the northern city of Kano.

IMN and its supporters have been the victims of a government crackdown since last year.

In December 2015, Nigerian forces raided the house of the IMN’s leader, Ayatollah Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, in Zaria.

The government forces shot and injured Zakzaky after killing his companions, including one of the movement’s senior leaders. Zakzaky was then taken to an unknown location and still remains in the custody of government forces.

SS