Shi’ite leader vows to defy Boko Haram

Mukhtar Sahabi, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Kaduna, says his people will resist the Boko Haram militants, insisting that the Shi’ite community cannot be wiped out of Nigeria.

Last Friday, some Shi’ites were attacked by Boko Haram, leaving 21 dead in a procession on Zaria road, Kano.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Sahabi said his people will defy Boko Haram’s threat and embark on endurance trek from Kaduna to Zaria.

“The Boko Haram insurgents can’t stop our procession,” he said.

“If we consider this as a threat which will stop you from practising your religion then you may end up not practicing because these people attack people in the Churches, Mosques, houses, motor parks and market places among others.

“Are we to say because they attack people in Mosque then it means all the Mosques will be closed. No more going to the church and market places. Then what is going to be left, everything will be stopped? And that will be the end of the world.

“We have to face the challenge because if Imam Hussain did not face the challenge, we won’t be commemorating or celebrating him as a symbol of resistance to tyranny and operation.

“So these people who are doing this want to paralyse the whole way of life. So we take it as a test from Allah. We don’t take it as a threat that will stop us from our religion.

“We are not worried about the threat. How can we be worried about people who are ghosts? They don’t have houses, schools not to talk of identity. How can you fear ghosts that don’t even exist? During the administration of Jonathan, our leader says he (Jonathan) is the Boko Haram because if one is educated you will not be deceived by all these things.”