Ten years after the deadly clash between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of the group, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to act on the crisis, saying he will “give account on the Day of Judgement.”
The Zaria Confrontation
The incident, which occurred during Buhari’s administration, began as a minor dispute when IMN members allegedly blocked the convoy of then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, en route to a passing-out parade in Zaria, Kaduna State. Soldiers responded with force, leading to a series of operations against the group.
Human Rights Watch reported that at least 300 IMN members were killed and secretly buried, while a state-backed judicial commission later indicated that over 1,000 civilians lost their lives. El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, were arrested and detained until their 2021 discharge and acquittal by a Kaduna High Court.
Criticism of Government Inaction
At a press conference marking the decade since the massacre, El-Zakzaky criticised both the Buhari administration and subsequent governments for failing to release the commission’s report or provide compensation to victims’ families. “Nothing has been done. They do not even acknowledge that anything happened,” he said, noting the report was submitted on 7 September 2016 without government action.
Accountability in the Hereafter
Asked about forgiveness, El-Zakzaky stated, “As for Buhari, it’s simple. He has passed away. We will meet on the Day of Judgement.” He also recounted a phone call from one of Buhari’s ministers while he lay wounded, saying, “Tell him my greetings. We will meet on the Day of Judgement.”
IMN Movement Continues
The cleric stressed that attempts to suppress the movement “only strengthened the IMN,” noting global attention after his arrest. He revealed that the group has filed an international case through the Islamic Human Rights Commission and asserted that dialogue with the government remains possible, though actions have yet to follow.
“If they don’t want to see us, they will still see us. If they don’t want to hear us, they will still hear us,” El-Zakzaky said, reaffirming the group’s commitment to its activities despite ongoing restrictions on public gatherings.
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