The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Islamic movement in Nigeria

  • Zaria clash: Zakzaky’s brother backs Army action

    Zaria clash: Zakzaky’s brother backs Army action

    Elder brother of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as Shiite group, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoob El-Zakzaky, Muhammad Sani Yaqoob, yesterday said he is very happy with the actions taken by the Nigerian Army in the last December clash between the Army and the Shi’ites in Zaria.

    Muhammad Sani Yaqoob, made this submission at the ongoing Judicial Commission of inquiry probing the clash in Kaduna on Monday.

    He continued when he said, the Nigerian Army would have been useless if they had made a u-turn on the spot of the Zaria clash where the members of the Shi’ites group barricaded the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

    Muhammad, who spoke in Hausa told the gathering that he shared the same father with El-Zakzaky, but different mothers. He said there was no clash between him and El-Zakzaky while growing up except that he has different ideology.

    He said El-Zakzaky is 4th child in the family of 16, describing him as very sharp and intelligent.

    Muhammad Sani Yaqoob who is also the Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’iqamatis Sunnah, (JIBWIS) in Zaria  said the Shiite group were being funded by Iran.

    According to him, “They are funded by Iran. They go to Iran twice in a year and they meet there. I have people who after they come back from their trip do come and tell me,” he said.

    He said the Second in Command to Sheikh El-Zakzaky, Muhammad Turi fueled the Army/Shiite clash, with the Sheikh himself as the root cause.

    However, he recommended to the sitting that whoever is found wanting after compilation of its report should be made to face the wrath of the Law.

  • Army/Shi’ites clash: Probe panel begins hearing

    Army/Shi’ites clash: Probe panel begins hearing

    Commission of Inquiry set up to look into last year’s bloody clash between men of Nigerian Army (NA) and members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ite sect in Zaria Wednesday began hearing of memoranda submitted to it by NA and others despite the absence of representatives of the Shi’ites.

    This came after series of adjournment due to inability of counsels to IMN to see their main client, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who is said to be in the custody of Directorate of State Security (DSS) since the time of incident.

    Meanwhile, Army presented four witnesses who were part of the convoy of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai on the fateful day. The witnesses include Major-General Ado Abubakar, Major-General Adeniyi Oyebade, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman and Brigadier-General Ayuba Ted Gamma.

    Earlier, Chairman of Commission, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, told the gathering that the commission was satisfied that every opportunity been afforded the IMN for fair hearing.

    According to him, “I have said it before, this commission cannot compel the IMN whether to appear before it or not. Whether they change their mind or not to appear, the commission will continue with the hearing to conclusion and submit its reports,” he stated.

    After about seven hours of presentation by Army, Justice Mohammed told every party that submitted memoranda to get ready as the hearing continues Thursday, saying if the IMN fails to appear again today, then the commission will hear from the next party.

    The Nation recalled that the Commission of Inquiry had six weeks from its first sitting to submit its final report with the first public sitting holding on 22nd February 2016, but extended by four weeks following the request for additional time by its chairman.

    It would also be that one of the counsels to IMN, Barrister Fetus Okoye, had said that that the movement was withdrawing from the commission based on their inability to see Zakzaky after several attempts.

     

  • Zaria clash: Shi’ites withdraw from judicial panel of inquiry 

    Zaria clash: Shi’ites withdraw from judicial panel of inquiry 

    Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), the Shi’ites,  Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, even as the Commission sits Wednesday after several adjournments to investigate the December 2015 Zaria  clash between the Shi’ites, and the Nigerian Army.

    Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba had last Monday adjourned till Wednesday to enable the Shiites have access to their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    However, addressing the press Tuesday, legal team of the movement, led by Mr. Festus Okoye, said since they could not get access to the Shiites leader after several adjournments, they have no option than to withdraw completely from appearing before the commission, as they cannot file memorandum without hearing from Zakzaky.

    Okoye said, “The legal team has resolved that in the light of the realities of lack of access,  briefing and representation for the Movement, the most honourable thing to do is to withdraw completely from appearance before the Commission in whatever form and manner and to cease any form of representation in whatever form or manner for the Movement.

    “The legal team thought it could lend its support to the Movement to tell the Nigerian public and the international community its own version of the events of the 12th to 14th of December 2015 but all efforts aimed at getting proper briefing from the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria met a brick wall.

    “The legal team of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria will not be used and will not allow itself to be used to legitimize a predetermined position and agenda against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

    “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria believes that the Nigerian people are entitled to know the truth of what happened in Zaria and Kaduna and will explore alternative means and avenues of letting the Nigerian people know the truth of what happened,” he said.

    Corroborating Okoye’s position, the daughter of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria leader, Suhaila Ibrahim El-Zakzaky recounted her ordeal of what she described as the bloody invasion of their home by men of the Nigerian Army.

    She said they were observing the early morning prayers when they gain entrance and raid the house.

    According to her, “We were at home when the attacks on the Hussainniya started. It was around 10pm at night, we heard gunshots from afar. It turned out that the military were there. They were shooting at people and advancing towards the house. We spent our night with shooting going on.

    “It was morning when a lot of people were performing their early morning prayers, they got the opportunity to come close to the house and that was when they eventually gain entrance to house. They killed as much people as they found. They burnt some alive. We were in the house but in the part that was not burnt down but I think they assumed that everybody was burnt. So they didn’t search. We spent the night like that.

    “In the morning, I think they came to search the house to see what is there. I myself, my parents, my brothers and some other members of the movement were there when they discovered where we were hiding. They randomly shot at us for few seconds or mother. When it finally stopped, that was when we realized that my father and mother have been shot. And my three brothers have been shot dead and other people they were with. They took us away one by one. We were beaten up and taking away in trucks to the Army depot in Zaria. Since then we lost contact till date. We were detained for four days,” she narrated.

     

  • Again, Shi’ites protest in Kaduna, demand Zakzaky’s release

    Again, Shi’ites protest in Kaduna, demand Zakzaky’s release

    Members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria (IMN) Wednesday embarked on another peaceful demonstration in Kaduna metropolis demanding unconditional release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky who has been detained for the past 50 days by security agents.

    The protesters who are mostly student came under auspices of Academic Forum of the movement said; “it is pathetic that contrary to Nigerian constitution that said nobody can be detained more than 24 hours without being charged to the court, sheik El-Zakzaky has been in custody for 50days which is a violation of his constitutional right.”

    The leader of the protest Mikaeel Yusuf said, following the military assault on the residents of sheik El-Zakzaky and two of their centers 730 of their members have been missing while 220 are in Kaduna prison, among them women and students.

    “We must accept the fact that students lay the foundation stone of the future of all societies because the youthful stage of a student is a prominent stage compare to all stages of life. It is a stage where students learn life issues and how to tackle challenges ahead and how to build a beautiful life. This is a stage where the growth and development of every Nation is determined.

    “It is now six weeks on, since when the Nigerian Army launched a coordinated crackdown massacre on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the guardianship of his eminence Allamah Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. Tens of students were brutally killed by the Nigerian Army and hundreds more are still under illegal detentions.

    “This is a display of inhumane and gross violation of fundamental human rights against fellow Nigerian Citizens. Based on the list that the Islamic Movement compiled, 750 men and women are either in military detentions or murdered.

    “Amongst them are dozens of students, excluding the 220 others that are presently in Kaduna, some Prison languishing with gun shots injuries without medical treatment. Children killed in 2014 by the same Army also blocked way? Does the house of Shaikh Zakzaky that was set on fire with people inside and later demolished blocked way?

    “What about killing of finally, we are calling for the immediate release of Allamah Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife as well as all others in detention. The perpetrators of these demonic acts be brought to book for the crime against humanity we demand Justice right now,” he said.

    They however protested from Katsina Roundabout to Kano Road junction on Ahmadu Bello Way, before turning to Kano Road down to Tudun Wada. The streets were shut for the period of the protest.