Governor Nasir Elrufai Kaduna state-led Government has officially labelled the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also know as Shiite as an insurgent group.

The White Paper released on Monday acknowledged that the Nigerian Army abided by its Rules of Engagement and that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry failed to take into account the years during which the activities of the IMN in Gyallesu had threatened peace and security.

“For all intent and purpose, the IMN is an insurgent group and ought to be treated as such,” the government said n the white paper.

The government also said the detained Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, will be Held Responsible for all acts carried out by the group’s members.

“Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky,” the white paper states. “He therefore bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness committed by the organisation and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted.”

In the report, the state government also indicated it may not prosecute the soldiers involved in the killing of over 300 members of the IMN in December last year, but may leave their prosecution to the federal government.