The groups, which also described such call as preposterous that smacked of mischief, said this in a statement jointly signed by NCYY President, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji and CSCAT Coordinator, Barrister Atani John and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
According to them, the recent position taken by Falana and some others, who they said, have renewed agitation for the release of the IMN Leader, amounted to a display of ignorance, in clear disregard of “the threats facing the country owning to the activities of those who have continued to embark on activities that seek to further compromise our National security.”
NCYY and CSCAT noted that more worrisome was the demand made by Falana that the Acting President, Osinbajo should direct the Nigerian Army to investigate and prosecute the military personnel responsible for the brutal and callous massacre of 347 members of the Shiite community in 2015.
“This assertion by Mr Falana is highly preposterous and it smacks mischief. For the records, the issue in question was clearly an assassination attempt on Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, by the outlawed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a terrorist organization that has held the people of Kaduna State and environs hostage of many years.
“For Mr Falana to now deliberately seek to misinform and confuse Nigerians on the activities of the dreaded IMN as against the Shite religious sect. This is an assault on our collective intelligence.
“As patriotic Nigerians, we are deeply concerned that respected Nigerians like Mr Femi Falana (SAN), could be at the vanguard of this latest orchestrated move, particularly in what looks like the latest onslaught on the Nigerian Military, especially the Nigerian Army.
“We believe and it is quite unfortunate for Mr Femi Falana to resort to manufacturing falsehood and malicious lies against the Nigerian Army, which under the present leadership of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had been adjudged not only in Nigeria, Africa, but by the International Communities as highly professional, disciplined and humane- An organization that always respect the rules of engagement and have tirelessly prosecuted the war against insurgency and all forms of insecurity in our dear country,” the statement said.
The groups further said that there was a need to remind Mr Falana that results of several investigations and inquiries that followed the clash between members of the banned IMN and some Nigerian Army personnel who ensured the Safety and survival of the COAS, General Buratai, during the ambush and assassination attempt, all recommended the prosecution of the IMN leader, El-Zakyzaky.
The groups, therefore, demanded that giving the latest development, the Federal Government should immediately set up machinery for the prosecution of Mr El-Zakyzaky, his sponsors, patrons and everyone indicted to have been involved in the assassination attempt on the COAS by IMN and all other atrocities that had been committed by same terrorist group.
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