Published on People’s Daily Newspaper, August 14, 2014, written by Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Soldiers on red alert against us, El-Zakzaky cries out Leader of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky yesterday raised alarm that, the Nigerian military after allegedly killing his 33 innocent followers in Zaria
at the recent Quds Day procession had again put soldiers on red alert against the group.
El-Zakzaky made the statement at the end of Nahjul Balagha study session at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria yesterday.
According to El-Zakzaky, “The Nigerian military, after killing innocent people in Zaria at the recent Quds Day procession, are now on the defensive and therefore, spreading rumour that the “Shi’ites” was going to avenge the killing of their members.
It would be recalled that Shi’ite had alleged the Nigerian military men and officers of killing 35 people, including 3 of Sheikh Zakzaky’s sons and injured many others after the Quds Day ‘peaceful’ procession.
Sheikh Zakzaky however, said yesterday that “the military, having woefully failed in their plan, have stationed all their barracks on red alert to further unleash more violence and spill innocent blood.
“We will not be surprised if they decided to detonate bombs in their barracks, or even kill some of their own and say it is the “Shi’ites” taking revenge. They have been doing this all over in the name of Boko Haram.
“Because the military was shamed before the world, they realized that if they unleash further onslaught without justification they would be further condemned; they therefore decided to spread the rumour and as well commission a Lagos and Kaduna- based newspapers to fabricate a malicious story and attribute it to him.
“The reporter of the newspaper (not Peoples Daily) was not in existence, but given the name Shehu Dawud. Then another newspaper carried the same story, word to word, but claimed ownership of the story by its anonymous correspondent. Neither of the two newspapers stated where I made the statement. We conducted a press conference here and recorded; it was published and posted on the Internet and YouTube; how could only a Lagos-based newspaper heard what the Al-Zakzaky said?” He queried.
He however disclosed that, he had received an invitation from the committee set up by military under Colonel Benjamin to investigate what led to the “gun battle between the Shi’a sect and the Nigerian military.” The Shi’ite leader described it as ridiculous, adding that, “from this, you can see their foolishness, they have already established that it was a gun battle.”
“Shi’a is not a military group. It is a religious belief that cuts across sections of the society. I cannot comprehend soldiers fighting a religious sect; can you imagine, for instance, soldiers fighting a Christian sect? Why call us a sect? I have never believed there is a sect in religion.”, he emphasised.
Responding on behalf of the 1 Division Nigerian Army, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Abdul Usman told this reporter on telephone that, “as far as I am concerned, I am just hearing that from you now. But I can tell you, there is no such order.”
Military ready to attack us again, says El-Zakzaky
Published in The Nation Newwspaper, August 14, 2014, written by
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, claimed yesterday that the military has again put soldiers on the red alert against his group.
He spoke yesterday at the end of Nahjul Balagha study session at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah in Zaria.
The movement had accused the military of killing 35 persons, including three of Zakzaky’s sons during a “peaceful’ procession” recently. Many others were also injured.
But 1 Division, Nigerian Army has denied the allegation, saying there was no such directive.
Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Abdul Usman, told The Nation on telephone: “As far as I am concerned, I am just hearing that from you now. But I can tell you, there is no such order.”
The cleric said: “The Nigerian military after killing innocent people in Zaria at the recent Quds Day procession, are now on the defensive and therefore spreading rumour that the Shi’ites were going to avenge the killing of their members.
“The military having woefully failed in their plan, have stationed all their barracks on red alert to further unleash more violence and spill innocent blood.
“We will not be surprised if they decided to detonate bombs in their barracks, or even kill some of their own and say it is the Shi’ites taking revenge. They have been doing this all over in the name of Boko Haram.
“Because the military was shamed before the world, they realised that if they unleash further onslaught without justification, they would be further condemned.” He accused the military of also commissioning some “newspapers to fabricate a malicious story and attributing” it to him.
The cleric quoted a memo emanating from an Army officer, which gave alleged fake account of what happened during the recent clash.
He said the military probe panel was a waste of time, as it had already concluded that it was a gun-battle that resulted in the recent loss of lives.
Soldiers Raising False Alert On Shi’ite Members – Zakzaky
Published in Leadership Newspaper, August 14, 2014, written by
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has alleged that the Nigerian military is now spreading rumour that the “Shi’ites” are planning to avenge the killing of their members.
He made the allegation at the end of Nahjul Balagha study session at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria, on Monday, the first since the Quds Day shootings.
The Nigerian military had during the Quds Day peaceful procession killed over 33 people, including three of Sheikh Zakzaky’s sons, while many were injured.
Sheikh Zakzaky said the military men, having woefully failed in their plan, have put all their barracks on red alert to further unleash more violence and spill innocent blood.
“We will not be surprised if they decided to detonate bombs in their barracks, or even kill some of their own and say it is the “Shi’ites” that are taking revenge. They have been doing this all over in the name of Boko Haram,” he said.
He said that because the military men had been put to shame before the world, they realised that if they unleash further onslaught without justification, they would be further condemned, adding that they have, therefore, decided to spread the rumour and commission Lagos and Kaduna-based newspapers to fabricate a malicious story and attribute it to him.
“The reporter of the national daily was non-existent, but given the name Shehu Dawud. Then another newspaper, The Polity, carried the same story, word-for-word, but attributed the story to its anonymous correspondent. Neither of the two newspapers stated where I made the statement. We conducted a press conference here and it was recorded; it was published and posted on the internet and YouTube; how could only a Lagos-based newspaper have heard what El-Zakzaky said?”
Sheikh Zakzaky further stated that the newspapers were sponsored by the military to write the story, adding that fed with the international dimension of the incident in the story, which could only have come from government sources.
“We are aware that the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran had summoned the Nigerian ambassador to the country and expressed its dismay over the shooting of peaceful protester at the Quds Day procession, and the Nigerian ambassador promised that the issue would be investigated.
“This was on the news, we are all aware of it. What we were not aware of was that other countries also expressed dismay over the issue. In the story, it is said that governments of Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey, South Africa, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, etc., all expressed concern over the incident.
“This was not in the news, and therefore the public was not aware of it. It was a diplomatic affair that was not made public. For that to be in only one selected local media proves that it came from government sources, and they used that to justify that these countries are backing our intention to embark on act of vengeance,” he said.
How falsehood, others affect war against terror, by Olukolade
Posted on The Guardian Mobile- Online, August 14, 2014
• El-Zakzaky alleges clampdown on followers
AS the war against the insurgents continues , the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said falsehood, negative reportage and the lack of understanding has posed a serious hurdle to overcoming the terrorists, even as he said the military was well trained for counter-terrorism operations.
Meanwhile, to contain the illegal movement of small arms and light weapons and other explosive materials, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Suleiman Abba,has ordered immediate establishment of Tactical Operation Points (TOP) in select states of the North East and North West.
Besides, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, otherwise known as Shittes, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky , yesterday raised the alarm that soldiers were again hunting his followers, just as he urged his members to be law- abiding.
Olukolade stated this yesterday in Abuja at the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agency (FOSSRA) interactive media parley convened by I-Nigeria initiative.
He said most of the stories carried on the activities and actions of terrorists were not true. “The claim which has become more rampant than the truth, it has become a standard, many of them are not as true as painted”, he said.
He pointed out that Nigerians in these troubled areas are now using the social media and telephones to circulate falsehood. “There is a tendencies to even call the media than to call the security agencies, thereby losing more time, telling how long an attack is going on while there is every likelihood that there are soldiers within the area.
“That’s why we are calling for understanding that some of the raised alarm may not be as accurate as presented. It calls for caution. It is not likely that the level of freedom of action attributed to these guys is as potent as being publicized,” he said.
Olukolade later told journalists that the eagerness with which most times negative news on the Nigerian Army is believed is not only patriotic but also demoralizing, as what is the true picture is most times not reflected. “That’s why we are calling for understanding that some of the raised alarm may not be as accurate as presented. It calls for caution”, he said.
On the insinuation in some quarters that the military was not adequately trained for counter-terrorism warfare, Olukolade said, “We have being trained. Even before terrorism came to Nigeria, our training doctrine had factored in this aspect.
“Right from young training, we have being training in counter terrorism, it is only the intensity that may differ. But everybody have the knowledge they have being given, adequate knowledge in counter-terrorism operations. It is only that now they have the situation at hand practically, all the ambush and all of the drills are elements of our training. It is jut the intensity and the practice, and every body is adjusting to it accordingly, ” he said.
He noted also that the usual reference to the Sambisa forest as an occupied territory of the terrorist is erroneous as “No portion of this country is available for terrorists to occupy, if they appear to be doing so, it is just a joke.”
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba , said that the TOP which will be manned by policemen who have received adequate training in tactical operation and counter-terrorism would be established in various strategic locations, including highways in Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States.
He added that the IGP has therefore charged all Assistant Inspectors -General of Police (AIGs) in charge of the Zones covering the affected states and all commissioners of police in charge of these states to ensure close supervision and constant reskilling of the personnel performing this special operation.
He therefore called on the public, particularly those in the North East and North West to cooperate with the police and see any inconvenience this operation may cause as a necessary sacrifice for the greater safety of all.
El-Zakzaky who made the allegation yesterday in Zaria at the end of an Islamic study session, Nahjul Balagha, involving his followers.,.
El-Zakzaky who made his first public outing yesterday since the Quds Day shootings which left more than 33 of his followers dead, including his two children, alleged that “the military, having woefully failed in their plan, have stationed all their barracks on red alert” to further unleash more mayhem on the members of the Islamic group.
“We will not be surprised if they decide to detonate bombs in their barracks, or even kill some of their own and say it is the Shi’ites taking revenge. They have been doing this all over in the name of Boko Haram”, he said.
According to him, “because they military were shamed before the world, they realized that if they unleash further onslaught without justification they would be further condemned, they therefore decided to allegedly spread rumour and as well commission Lagos and Kaduna- based newspapers to fabricate a malicious story and attribute it to him.
Zakzaky further argued that some newspapers were allegedly sponsored and commissioned to write reports, adding that some of the international dimension of reports that were published against the Movement could only have come from government sources.
The Islamic leader further stressed “We are aware that the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran had summoned Nigerian ambassador to the country and expressed its dismay over the shooting of peaceful protester at the Quds Day procession, and the Nigerian ambassador promised that the issue would be investigated”.
Sheikh Zakzaky also expressed the shortcomings of the military “in the memo sent out by one of their commandants , Brigadier General B.A. Fiboiumama to Nigerian Army HQ DIV1 which stated that soldiers engaged the “Shi’ites sect in an exchange of fire that resulted in the death of 10 people on the enemy side, injured two , captured an ambulance as booty, but could not capture prisoners of war. Nil death or injury were recorded, no prisoner of war captured on the military side”.
Said he: “From this you can see, they(military) have already established that it was a gun battle. For your information, Shi’ite is not a military group. It is a religious belief that cuts across sections of the society. I cannot comprehend soldiers fighting a religious sect; can you imagine, for instance, soldiers fighting a Christian sect? Why call us a sect? I have never believed there is a sect in religion.”
Sheikh Zakzaky recounted the unfortunate incident that led to the death of his members recently in Zaria, saying that “ what happened was that soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters in broad daylight and killed 19 people on the spot, took 14 to the barrack and tortured them to death”.
He also dismissed the military probe panel set up to investigate the incident as a waste of time, noting that “it had already concluded that it was a gun battle”.