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A Nigerian court has authorized the government to qualify a local Shiite Muslim group as a terrorist organization, the Solicitor General told Reuters on Saturday.
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) are marching in the capital, Abuja, to demand the release of their leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, in detention since 2015 despite a judicial decision to release him.
The demonstrations have often become violent. An IMN spokesman said at least 20 members of the group were killed this week during protests.
Nigeria's Solicitor General Dayo Apata confirmed in a mobile text message that a federal court in Abuja had cleared the government to ban IMN, which allowed the authorities to crack down on the group.
An IMN spokesman said he had not received any formal notice, but that the marches would continue.
Zakzaky's office said that plans to ban the move had been considered since 2015 and that he was not surprised by the move.
A court in the northern state of Kaduna is scheduled to rule on Zakzaky's request for bail on Monday.
The Shiite group can appeal the order.
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