The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, on Tuesday exposed an alleged plot by the military to cause violence in Zaria, Kaduna State, using the movement as a cover.
The cleric disclosed that he had to arrive in Zaria earlier than scheduled for his weekly sermons to expose and forestall what he described as a sinister plan to cause violence in the city.
El-Zakzaky, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Malam Ibrahim Usman, in Kaduna, said he was acting on a tip-off over the plan by the Nigerian military to infiltrate the movement and kill unsuspecting soldiers, which will justify official clampdown on its members.
According to the Shi’ite leader, the plan would involve soldiers wearing Hurras (Guards) traffic control volunteers’ uniforms and subsequently open fire on unsuspecting soldiers passing by.
“While this is happening, they will have their camera ready, filming it and later blame it on ‘Shi’ites’. They would then begin manhunt and indiscriminate shooting of people”, he said.
He added, “The unsuspecting soldiers (the target) in four vehicles comprising 60 soldiers in each, two Hilux vans, Jeep and an ambulance had actually arrived Leventis roundabout, scene of the planned shooting, disembarked with sign of hostility, but a sudden heavy downpour foiled their plan. They had to walk away disappointed as the situation was becoming uncontrollable”.
Zakzaky revealed that the Hurras traffic control volunteers were earlier asked to withdraw and he also changed route, which left only the disguised soldiers visibly identified at the scene, and therefore had to quickly depart in full disappointment.
