Activists, under the aegis of the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE), have urged the Federal Government to ban the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect.
This followed the ban recent ban by the Kaduna State Government, where the sect has its base.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, CATE’s Secretary General Daniel Obaje described Kaduna government’s action as a relief to the residents.
The group said the ban was timely because it came on the heels of a series of activities the sect members allegedly planned to undermine the state’s security.
Obaje said: “It is in this light that we urge the Federal Government to follow the example of Kaduna State by immediately outlawing the IMN nationwide and pursue criminal charges against anyone who continues to maintain the group, remains its member or attempts to reorganise it under a new name or identity.
“Because there have been previous concerns that remnants of the Boko Haram terror group are ditching their sectarian affiliation and joining IMN, the Federal Government should immediately mandate security agencies to dismantle the IMN’s network, cells and infrastructure to ensure it is unable to resurface as a more deadly terror group.
“Those associated with the proscribed group should be kept under close security watch with a requirement that they are not allowed to travel abroad to countries where they could get advanced military training and further radicalisation.”
He added: “…The ban on IMN should extend to its subsidiaries and affiliate organisations founded on the same model and ideology. Further directives must be issued to security agencies with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) being in the lead of unravelling how much foreign funds come to the IMN and if it has a link with international terror financing. “