ABUJA, TENSIONS are high after the Nigerian government banned some Muslims.

The ban comes after civilians and law enforcers were killed during protests against the continued detention of Muslim leader, Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky.

He has been held since 2015.

Malam Garba Shehu, spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the banning was to discourage violence, murder and destruction of property by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)

IMN is deliberately changing the narrative in order to gain sympathy and divert the attention of the world from its terrorist activities, including attacking soldiers, killing policemen and a youth corps member, destroying government ambulances and public property,

consistently defying authority of the state.

Shehu said extremists had taken over the IMN and employed violence and arson to undermine the

The Presidency insists that such criminal behaviour and disregard for rights of others and human life will not be tolerated by any responsible government, Shehu said.

IMN has denied perpetrating violence and accused police of brutality.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 190 million people, is equally divided between Christians and Muslims.

Source: CAJ News Agency