Soldiers ‘kill’ Zakzaky’s son in Zaria clampdown

Soldiers have killed the son of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ia or Shi’ite, members of the movement have alleged.

In a press statement issued on Sunday afternoon and signed by Ibrahim Musa, the movement alleged that apart from killing Sayyid Aliy, the son of their leader, the soldiers also killed the leader of the Kano center, Muhammad Turi, Mustapha Sa’eed, Ibrahim Usman, Jummai Gilima “and ten other members”.

Two of Zakzaky’s sons were killed in a similar incident last year and the military later condoled him thereafter.

Full text of the statement

Following alleged blockade of the route of the Chief of Army Staff by the members of the Movement, the Nigerian Army brutally descended on armless members of the Movement with heavy military weapons killing indiscriminately.

In the mean time, leading members of the Islamic Movement and other members as well, have been killed by the soldiers including the leader of the Kano Center, Sheikh Muhammad Turi, Dr. Mustapha Sa’eed, Malam Ibrahim Usman and Sister Jummai Gilima.

Also killed was Sayyid Aliy, the son of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), the wife of the Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), Malama Zeenat Ibraheem  and tens of other members as more are being killed as at the time of this release.

The sporadic killings took place at three different locations that include the residence of the reverred leader of the Movement at Gyallesu, the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA and the Darur Rahma located along Zaria-Jos road where many armless people were killed.

The killing was so brutal at Gyallesu that even those injured in the shooting were identified and killed in cold blood by the soldiers. And as at the time of writing this press release, the victims run into their hundreds, if not thousands.

Considering the gross violation of fundamental human rights and extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, the Islamic Movement hereby condemns these unjustifiable acts.

We state categorically that the claim by the Army that Members of the Movement attempted of assasinate the Chief of Army Staff was a blatant lie as the army came back to launch their attack more than an hour after the COAS had passed.

Clearly, the Nigerian government through its military is now on rampage, in an all out war with the Islamic movement, its members and structures.  The scale of this attack would suggest it was meticulously planned by authorities and now being executed ruthlessly. The alledged attack on COAS Burutai was just an alibi.

Therefore, with all pointers at the government as the contractor of the killings, we hereby call on well meaning Nigerians and the international community to intervene and seek redress for the victims and their family members as many innocent people have unjusifiably been killed and many others severely injured.

In the mean time there is no idea as to the where about of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) nor his current condition, and agrieved members of the Movement across the country have taken to the streets in condemnatory protests.

Signed by

Ibrahim Musa

President of Media Forum Of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria