ABUJA – The Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI) has expressed the need for dialogue to resolve the clashes between the military and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites.
PGI, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), said through dialogue among various stakeholders, a lasting solution to the problem would be achieved.
The National Coordinator of the group, Esther Uzoma, stated this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
She said violence and force would not end the ongoing fight between the military and members of the Islamic sect.
NAN reports that the Shi’ites and soldiers had clashed at Zuba, a satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Oct. 27, resulting in the deaths of some members of the group.
Uzoma, who is also the alternate chairperson of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said it was disheartening that such incident happened in the country.
‘’Let me commiserate with Nigerians who lost their lives within this week in the course of the protest.
”I feel very bad that these Nigerians lost their lives in the course of expressing their constitutional right.
‘’I feel very pained. It doesn’t matter whether it is a religious group or not,” she said.
NAN reports that the group, which was on a religious procession before the fracas broke out at Zuba, vowed to continue the protest in the FCT until its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, was released.
NAN reports that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, had placed all commissioners of police on red alert over the activities of the sect.
