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Tag: Ibrahim Musa

  • Court frees 100 Shi’ites members in detention

    The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday in her judgement in the “no case submission” filed by the defense lawyers on the case brought before her freed nearly 100 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites group, that were arrested at various locations in December 2015 following a clash between the group and the Nigerian Army.

    Justice Shiri Nyom in his judgement discharged and acquitted the sect members of the charges levelled against them as contained in a Press Statement signed by the President Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa and made available to newsmen.

    According to the statement, “This judgement has not only vindicated the members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, but it is certainly a victory for perseverance in the face of extreme persecution. It is a victory for truth and justice against tyranny and impunity,” said the statement.

    The Islamic Movement further stated, “It will be recalled that the Kaduna state government sued almost about 200 members of the Islamic Movement after an attack on the Movement by the Nigerian Army in December 2015 which led to the killing of over a thousand souls, including three sons of the Sheikh Zakzaky, his elder sister and a nephew.

    “The attack was sequel to the unlawful invasion of the privacy of their residence and eventual destruction of the house completely. This has been aptly described by several human rights bodies as a massacre. To worsen these flagrant crimes against humanity, bodies of all the hundreds killed were hurriedly and secretly buried in mass graves about 100km away from the scene, apparently in a shoddy attempt at hiding the crime and its magnitude.”

    The sect group reiterated its call for the release of its leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife who have equally been in the custody of the Director of State Services (DSS), “We are all aware of the crude tactics of the Kaduna state government led by Malam Nasir el-Rufai all in his devilish plots at perpetuating the persecution against the Islamic Movement and the continued detention incommunicado of Sheikh Zakzaky and his ailing wife in spite of previous court judgement ordering their immediate release from detention, thereby further flaunting his fundamental rights and rights to liberty.

    “With this victory in the court today, the false charges filed against them of aiding and abetting the culpable homicide has been punctured for good. We await the response of the Kaduna state government as Sheikh Zakzaky’s case comes up in the next two days. We expect them to respect the judgement of this honourable court and the course of justice to withdraw the fake charges against him and release him with immediate effect.

    “As a peaceful Movement, we have kept to our clean tradition of seeking redress through peaceful means without any resort to violence despite deliberate and persistent provocations by the government. Today, Kaduna state government has again failed in court after a fair trial. We therefore give praises to the Almighty Allah for yet another successful outing, which further proves to the world that the Movement and its leader are only victims of impunity and mischievous plots by the El-Rufai-led government,” according to the statement.

    The Islamic Movement in Nigeria thanked all those that stood by it throughout the trial, “We wish to use this opportunity to also say a big thank you to all people of conscience, human rights activists and organizations, journalists and all those that joined in our dogged campaign for justice for the victims of Zaria genocide. Thank you and God bless.”

  • Legislative council sets up committee on missing property

    Legislative council sets up committee on missing property

    The Legislative Council of Gwaram Local Government of Jigawa has inaugurated a six-member committee to investigate some missing property in its various offices.

    The Information Officer of the local government, Alhaji Nasiru Yusif, announced this in Dutse on Tuesday.

    Yusif said the committee was inaugurated during the council’s sitting, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Isyaku Mustapha, on Monday.

    He explained that the committee was expected to investigate the missing of property at the offices of the legislators, the Chairman’s official residence, staff quarters, as well as offices of Heads of Department.

    Read also: Jigawa gets N420m from Fed Govt

    The spokesman added that the deputy speaker, who described the rampant cases of theft as “unfortunate”, said that the legislative council decided to investigate the issue to end the menace.

    According to him, Mustapha urged members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed on them by identifying the culprits and the property stolen.

    The committee has Malam Isa Usaini as Chairman and Isyaku Mustapha as Secretary, while others include Usman Haruna, Abdu Adamu and Ibrahim Musa.

    It has two weeks to submit its report.

    NAN

  • Sergeant dies as police arrest 34 for kidnapping, murder, rape

    Sergeant dies as police arrest 34 for kidnapping, murder, rape

    The police yesterday paraded 34 suspects for their alleged involvement in kidnapping, robbery, murder, and rape.

    The suspects, who belong to four gangs, were paraded in Diko Police station, Niger State, by the Force Spokesman Jimoh Moshood.

    A police Sergeant, Shettima Abdullahi, was killed  yesterday at a roadblock mounted by hoodlums.

    Some of the suspects paraded are Hussaini Mohammed, also known as General Sambisa, gang leader; Adamu Hussaini, Bala Mohammed, Shagari Musa, Hassan Hashimu, Ibrahim Badamasi, Babangida Hamza, Yau Auta, Umaru Abubakar, Karo Ladan, Buhari Abubakar, Alanshira Abubakar, Aziru Tasiu, Ibrahim Musa and Ishamu Saidu.

    Others are Sani Aliyu, Shuaibu Abubakar, Bashir Abubakar, Nasiru Sani, Zayanu Sani, Isa Salisu, Hafiz Jibrin, Kabiru Sani, Abdullahi Adamu, Barau Masaudu, Ibrahim Hassan, Aliyu Chede, Bello Abdullahi, Isa Abdullahi, Nasiru Adamu, and Idris Dauda.

    A police source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Sergeant Abdullahi was the driver in our team. We were trying to trail the hideouts and flashpoints of some of the kidnappers and one of the kidnappers in our custody mentioned that some of his gang members were in Zaria.

    “We took off in the night to raid their hideout and make some arrest. On our way back, we ran into a blockage by some hoodlums around Jaji area of Kaduna State.

    “It happened around 12 am. We had to open fire and in the process, we killed five of them but they succeeded in killing one of our men who happened to be our driver.”

    The Nation was shown the vehicle the sergeant died in. The white 18-seater vehicle, marked AZ139BWR, still had bullet holes and blood stains of the late Abdullahi.

    His body has been deposited in the mortuary in Kaduna.

    Mosood said some of the suspects in military outfit, specialised in killing military personnel and other security men.

    The gangs, described as deadly, he said, have killed 11 policemen.

    He said: “The latest of their victim is Sergeant Shettima Abdullahi, who was killed during the raid by  a special team deployed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to curb crime on Abuja, Kaduna, Kogi and Niger roads.

    “Eight vehicles, arms and ammunition, chisel, hammer, cutlasses, plier, over 50 phones belonging to their victims, television, desktop and laptop computer, and other lethal weapons were recovered from them.

    “The success was made possible following operation Absolute Sanity.  At a single swoop, 34 kidnappers were arrested by our men. Some of them specialised in operating in military uniform. When you see them on the highway, you will think they are personnel of the military but they are not.

    “They use military uniform to stop people forcefully and kidnap some of their victims.

    ‘’The IG commiserated with the family of Sergeant Abdullahi, who died during the early hours of today (yesterday) during an exchange of firearms with some of the kidnappers.”

  • NPFL: Enyimba FC pips Kano Pillars FC 1-0

    NPFL: Enyimba FC pips Kano Pillars FC 1-0

    Enyimba Football club of Aba on Sunday defeated Kano Pillars Football club 1-0 in the week 32 of the Nigerian Professional Football League match played at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar.

    The tension soaked encounter saw the two teams making frantic efforts to get the opener but none was able to break each other’s defense line.

    The match ended 0-0 at half time but the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Junior Lokasa fouled an Enyimba player and center Referee Wole Adeniyi from Oyo State wasted no time in giving him a red card.

    On resumption of second half, the home team tried to take advantage of their numerical strength by pushing forward but Yusuf Mohammed in goal for Pillars stood firm.

    However, in the 71st minute a penalty was awarded to Enyimba and the captain, Mfon Udoh, scored to put them ahead.

    In his reaction, Technical Adviser of Pillars, Ibrahim Musa blamed the referee for the loss.

    “Referees are the killers of Nigerian league. We try our best to teach these players what to do but the referees kill the game for us. My boys performed excellently well but we lost to very poor officiating,” he said.

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote of Enyimba thanked his players for giving a good account of themselves.

    “It was a high tension match and thank God we won. I congratulate my boys we will take it up from there,” he said.

  • NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Kano Pillars 2-0

    NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Kano Pillars 2-0

    Hosts Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi on Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium defeated Kano Pillars FC of Kano 2-0 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    Wikki Tourists scored the opening goal of the Match Day 28 fixture eight minutes into the game through Alhmed Usman after he wriggled past the visiting defenceline.

    They scored their second goal 48 minutes into the match through Chinedu Aneibor when he made good use of a deflection by right winger Ambrose Peter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wikki Tourists were with a more purposeful and coordinated approach, but poor finishing by their strikers robbed them of scoring many goals.

    Kano Pillars, on their part, dominated the game in the second half, only to find their rhythm affected by three yellow cards received by Rabiu Ali, Chinedu Udoji and Ibrahim Alassan.

    Bala Nikyu, Chief Coach of Wikki Tourists, later described the match’s officiating as fantastic.

    “In our last three matches, the officiating especially in Ibadan was fantastic. In this one too, the officiating was good.’’

    He attributed the successes he had recorded since he assumed leadership of the team to the cordial relationship between him and the players.

    Ibrahim Musa, the Chief Coach of Kano Pillars, on his part described Wikki Tourists as “a good team’’.

    “But my boys too played very well, in spite of the little mistakes.

    “When we go back to Kano, we will see how we can correct such mistakes before our next match,” the coach said.

  • Nwangwa’s brace lifts Kano Pillars over Lobi Stars

    Nwangwa’s brace lifts Kano Pillars over Lobi Stars

    Nyima Nwangwa scored a brace on Sunday for Kano Pillars to beat visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    Goals in the 29th and 49th minutes of the Match Day 22 fixture played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano gave Pillars victory.‎

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uchenna Eze’s 85th minute equaliser was not enough to give the visiting Makurdi-based side any reprieve.

    Kano Pillars’ coach Ibrahim Musa told newsmen after the match that his team’s performance was good.‎

    Musa expressed satisfaction with the game’s outcome, saying he was happy that his boys played according to instructions.

    ‎Solomon Ogbede, coach of Lobi Stars, also commended his team for their fighting spirit.

    “Although we lost the match today against Kano Pillars, but I can say that my boys played well,” he said.

  • Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

    Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

    Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites, on Monday said that they have taken the Nigerian Army to International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague for alleged war crimes in the December 2015 clash with its members in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    Addressing Journalists, Spokesman of the Islamic group, Ibrahim Musa said the Zaria clash was a war against the Shi’ites where over 1000 of them were allegedly killed by the Army.

    The ICC is believed to be  the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

    According to Musa,  “International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has on behalf of Shiites called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year.

    “In the filing submitted to the ICC today IHRC writes: ‘The crimes committed between the 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity. The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor’.

    “The International Criminal Court is being urged to investigate the massacre of nearly 1000 civilians in Nigeria last December at the hands of the country’s armed forces.

    “IHRC has called on the international tribunal which has a mandate to prosecute people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year in which soldiers attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s (IMN) supporters, symbols and property.

    “The assault over two days in the northern Nigerian city left a trail of bloodshed and destruction including the shooting of the movement’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat. Both are currently believed to be in military custody, detained without charge.

    “Information obtained by IHRC indicates that 217 people were confirmed killed in the attacks, another 219 are in detention, and 482 are still missing. The number of injured is believed to run into many hundreds. IHRC’s filing to the ICC is largely based on eye-witness evidence of the army’s assault.

    “The majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. Cases of people being burnt alive have also emerged. Injuries caused by machetes or other knife wounds have also been found on the corpses, and could be the work of the criminal groups that perpetrated acts of looting and mutilation alongside the military. Signs of torture and electrocution have been evidenced on the body of the IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and other detainees, two of whom died as a result thereof.

    “Sexual violence has also been reported, including cases of rape against women affiliates of the IMN. A 14-year old female witness told IHRC that the military shot her in her private parts when she resisted attempts by soldiers to rape her. Some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and others were deliberatelly shot in the pelvic region damaging their uteri.

    “Photographic evidence has been obtained along with testimonies of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree. Some corpses were allegedly incinerated, apparently in order to conceal any evidence.

    “In its submission IHRC says that the evidence suggests that the army’s assault was a systematic and pre-planned attempt to snuff out the IMN whose growing popularity have made it a thorn in the side of Nigerian governments.

    “A similar army assault in July 2014 during a religious procession led to the deaths of 34 IMN members including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky who were apparently singled out for execution.

    “During the  December’s violence soldiers were seen celebrating and chanting slogans against the IMN, such as ‘we have finished with the Shia and Zakzaky’ and ‘no more Shias in Nigeria’. Although the IMN has support among Nigeria’s Sunnis and Shias it is often portrayed by its detractors as a Shia organisation.

    “During the violence soldiers used automatic weapons, explosives and armoured vehicles against unarmed civilians. This, along with the destruction of places of worship, graves and other buildings associated with the IMN, appears to support the contention that the attack was aimed at fatally damaging or eliminating the IMN.

    “Although the state government in Kaduna has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry IHRC believes it is insufficiently independent and impartial to be able to hold those responsible to account, nor is there any reasonable prospect of any prosecutions.

    “In his speech announcing the inquiry state governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai listed a range of grievances against the IMN, which is indicative of bias against the IMN from the start. He was also responsible for demolishing IMN properties before setting up the commission of inquiry”. He said.

  • PDP Northcentral rally a jamboree, says APC

    PDP Northcentral rally a jamboree, says APC

    The Niger State All Progressive Congress (APC) has flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for holding a rally in the Northcentral Zone at a time the area is freting under the scourge of insecurity.

    Its Interim Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Musa, told reporters in Minna, the state capital, that the rally was ill-timed, adding that it was a deceptive ploy by the ruling party to flag off the second term campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He however, said that the rally would not affect the fortune of the APC in the state. Musa added: “A million rallies by the PDP in Niger State cannot move us or change the fortune of the PDP. We are now on ground. Let them hold more rallies. It will not affect our fortune”.

    The APC chieftain berated the ruling party for lack of prioritiation, stressing that, instead of solving mounting national problems, President Goodluck Jonathan was involved in a jamboree.

    Musa said: “The so-called PDP Northcentral Solidarity and Unity Rally is a jamboree. It is unfortunate that when our citizens are being killed in the Northeast and in Plateau State, which is in the Northcentral, our President is busy shuttling from one state to another doing jamboree.

    “The PDP has no welfare plan for the citizens. All they are concerned about is 2015 and how they will manipulate the 2015 election results, which, God will not allow. They will not succeed in manipulating the election results”.

    The politician said that Niger State PDP decided to host the rally because the state government has lost the popularity battle. He said the party has failed the state in the last 14 years.

    Stressing that the APC is unperturbed by the rally, he said: “The jamboree will have no effect on the rising profile of the APC in Niger state. The rally cannot change the perception of the people in Niger State about the PDP as a failed party and their preference for the APC.

    “The President’s visit will not in anyway affect the strength of the APC in Niger state. The PDP has never won election in Niger State. All the victories given to the PDP were a ruse. So, there is no hope for President Jonathan or the PDP in Niger State and the rally will not improve their chance in any way.”.

    Musa said that it is worrisome that Governor Mu’azu Aliyu, who is the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum, hosted the rally at a time the peace is the region is being threatened bt the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “As the chairman of Northern governors, Aliyu should not be organising a jamboree. Rather, he should be concerned about putting an end to the problems of the North. He has shifted his priorities”.

    Also reacting, Mr. David Umaru, a lawyer and governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), said cannot change the peoples’ perception about the PDP.

    He said: “No amount of rallies held in Niger State can shake us; neither will it affect the fortune of the APC in the state. We are strongly on ground.”