Members of the Islamic
Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, have accused the army
of abducting 50 girls from Zaria, Kaduna state during last year’s clash between
the sect and some soldiers.
The organisation also
announced the establishment of the #BringBackOurZariaGirls campaign, and said
it would not rest until the girls are rescued.
The Shi’ites said the
parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls were looking up to the military to
secure the release of their children, without knowing that soldiers also
abducted innocent people.
In what could be seen as
a jest on the military, the organisation said the difference between soldiers’
and Boko Haram’s style of operation is that while insurgents acted under
anonymity, the soldiers committed the alleged crime openly.
“We still mourn the
tragedy of the loss of our brothers and sisters, but the bitter part of it is
the abduction of over 50 girls by men of the Nigerian army,” the group said in
a statement.
“The abduction of the
girls took place immediately after the disastrous massacre at the residence of
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, which is a shameful act that dented the image of the
Nigerian military in the international arena.
“In a situation where
Nigerians and parents of the abducted Chibok girls relied heavily with the
belief that the army can rescue their abducted children, the same army were
caught in a new set of abduction paradox.
“The distinction between
Chibok girls’ abduction and Zaria abduction is that Chibok is related to a
group that operates in anonymity, while in Zaria, the girls’ abduction was
fully undertaken by uniformed men of the Nigerian army.
“Females are precious
species that are highly fragile and sensitive; that is the reason why we launched
the #BringBackOurZariaGirls campaign; we hope to see the engagement of human
right activists, socialists, feminist groups, and all sympathetic minds in the
struggle for the freedom of our abducted girls.”
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