Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria during a peaceful protest in Abuja. File photo.
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has decried the recurring violation of the fundamental human rights of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
Leader of the coalition, Mikail Yunus, at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, warned against such violation.
The coalition is made up of the Advocate Movement, Positive Impact Wailers of Nigeria, Initiative for Conciliation and Right Protection, and the Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy.
Yunus said that for the past 40 years of IMN existence, it had suffered tremendous rights violations for confronting and resisting oppression, corruption among others in the country.
He added that such sufferings and persecution were done on account of IMN’s unity and its quest to protect the right of others.
According to him, in this way, the IMN suffered rights violation more than any group in the country, that was why it was a focal point for rights organisations.
“The fundamental rights of thousands of members of the movement have been violated.
“The Nigerian Constitution has never been silent on outlining the fundamental human rights of its citizens as codified in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“These rights are every free citizen’s legal entitlement to enjoy without the fear of the government or other fellow citizens.
“With these rights in place, the citizen can once again enjoy the inalienable rights close to what is obtainable before in other climes,” he said.
Yunus said that the rights of its members to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association had been hampered.
Leader of the coalition called on the Nigeria Government to immediately arrest and prosecute those responsible for the murder of IMN members. (NAN)
