The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday arraigned another batch of 91 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) before a Kaduna High Court, seeking death sentence for the accused.
The government had on April 21 arraigned 50 members of the sect on similar charges.
They were among the 266 sect members arrested during the Shiite/Army clash between Dec. 12 and Dec 14, 2015 in Zaria.
The Shi’a group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, says over hundreds of its members were killed and secretly buried by soldiers during the clash.
The Kaduna State government said 347 bodies were buried by the army and the state government in the Mando area of Zaria.
NAN reports that 256 of other Shiites arrested by the army are facing charges that attract death sentence, while 10 others are facing other charges in different courts in the state.
They were arraigned on a five-count charge for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disturbance of public peace and wrongful restrain.
Dari Bayero, who led the prosecution, told Justice Hajara Gwadah that the accused persons were being charged “pursuant to Sections 97, 102, 106, 221 and 256 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State.
“My Lord the charge before you is for mention. We humbly apply that the names of the accused persons be called out for identification.
“My Lord the 1st, 13th, 34th, 39th, 57th , 66th and 70th accused persons are not in court and are absent.
“They were released on bail and are aware of this date particularly the accused person No. 57 who we have proof of service on.
“My Lord the 1st accused person was released on bail to one Ibrahim Haruna who is Resident at Zaria.
“My Lord we hereby apply for a bench warrant against the 57th accused person.
“My Lord same is also applied against all the accused persons that are absent. I also apply for a short date for further arraignment.“
On his part, Festus Okoye, who led the defence team, said the prosecution had not served any of the accused persons with the charge since the case was filed on March 22, 2016.
“My Lord our first application is that the prosecution should serve the charges on all the accused persons.
“My Lord, the application for bench warrant against the accused persons that are not before the court is not proper.
“My Lord the 1st accused and his surety were not served with a copy of this charge and hearing notice and thus, are not aware that the matter comes up today.
“The 13th accused person was released because he was critically ill. There is also no evidence that he was served with the charge or hearing notice.
“The 39th and 70th accused persons were released on bail because they are minors and were not served against today. I don’t have information on the 57th accused person.“
The defence counsel requested the court to order the prosecution to serve the accused persons that were not in court and their sureties.
After listening to the submissions, the Judge issued a bench warrant against the 57th accused person.
“Bench warrant against 57th accused person is hereby granted. Accused persons are to be served personally.
“Case adjourned to June 1, 2016 for arraignment,” Mr. Gwadah declared.
(NAN)
Source:www.premiumtimesng.com

US AMBASSADOR: ZAKZAKY HAS ALWAYS OPPOSED VIOLENCE; MUST BE RELEASED AT ONCE…TO FORESTALL BREAKDOWN [CFR REPORT]
US BY NEWSRESCUE 
APRIL 28, 2016

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Zakzaky has always been opposed to violence
It is to be hoped the investigation is credible and thorough, and the authorities hold accountable those responsible for the massacre
Zakzaky and his wife, now detained without charge since December, should be released at once
If Buhari fails, Zakzaky’s Shiite sect will go underground, just as Boko Haram did
Council of Foreign Relations, CFR
by John Campbell, former Ambassador to Nigeria; On April 27th, 2016
Caption: Nigerian Security Services, Boko Haram, and the 2015 Zaria Shiite Massacre
In 2009, following Boko Haram’s apparent revolt, the details of which remain murky and contentious, the Nigerian security services, mostly the army, destroyed the group’s Maiduguri compound. The army arrested then Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and turned him over to the police, who extrajudicially murdered him. The army killed at least eight hundred of his followers and family members. Boko Haram survivors went underground only to emerge in 2011 under a new, bloodthirsty leader: Abubakar Shekau.
Since then, fighting between Nigeria and Boko Haram has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and more than two million internally displaced persons. Though by no means free of violence, Boko Haram had not been especially murderous before 2009. In 2015, the Institute for Economics and Peace characterized it as the world’s most lethal terrorist movement. The Nigerian security services’ 2009 Maiduguri killings were the catalyst that transformed Boko Haram into a violent terrorist movement devoted to the destruction of the Nigerian secular political economy.
In December 2015 , in Zaria, Kaduna state, the security services killed more than 350 people, mostly Shias, according to a new report by Amnesty International. Nigerian Shiite authorities maintain that there are an additional 350 missing. Amnesty documents crude efforts by the Nigerian security authorities to cover-up the massacre. As in 2009, there was a confrontation between the security services and a religious sect; the army claims the Shias were trying to murder the chief of army staff moving through their neighborhood in a convoy. The Shias deny anything other than peaceful intent. The Shias leader, Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, and his wife were severely wounded and have been detained without charge. Zakzaky was granted access to a lawyer only in April.
There are fearsome similarities between the incidents in Maiduguri and Zaria. Must we anticipate from the Shias the same violent trajectory as that of Boko Haram? There are differences that may mitigate Shiite violence.
The aftermath of Mohammed Yusuf’s murder was captured in a video that went viral in northern Nigeria; Zakzaky, however, is still alive. Yusuf in his preaching was increasingly characterizing the Nigerian secular state as evil and he appeared to incite violence against it. Zakzaky has always been opposed to violence. In 2009, the authorities moved very slowly toward an investigation of the bloodshed in Maiduguri. In Zaria, by contrast, the state government has moved quickly to investigate the incident and has promised a report.

To prevent a repeat in Zaria of what happened in Maiduguri, it is to be hoped that the investigation of the incident is credible and thorough, and that the authorities hold accountable those responsible for the massacre. Zakzaky and his wife, now detained without charge since December, should be released at once. But, if the Nigerian government fails to take these actions then there is the risk that members of Zakzaky’s Shiite sect will go underground, just as Boko Haram did.
Source: www.newsrescue.com

URGENT: NIGERIAN ARMY PLANNING TO TAMPER WITH THE MANDO MASS GRAVE, RELOCATE BODIES
HEADLINES BY
NEWSRESCUE  APRIL 28, 2016

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There are credible reports reaching us that the Nigerian army is making secret preparations to tamper with the mass Graves at Mando where at least 347 Shia Muslims were buried by Kaduna state Governor el-Rufai.
They want to evacuate a large numbers of the corpses and burn them in an undisclosed location to further destroy the evidence of the brutal slaughter of close to 1000 defenseless and unarmed Shia Muslims in Nigeria during the Zaria pogrom of December 2015.
Nigerians and the International community should hold the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for any tampering of the Mando mass grave by the Nigerian army authorities and state security department.
Source: newsrescue.com

ARMY KILLED OVER 1000 PEOPLE IN ZARIA INCLUDING MANY PASSERSBY –SHEIKH ABDULQADIR YAQOUB (ZAKZAKY ELDER BROTHER)
NEWSRESCUE APRIL 28, 2016

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By Abdulmumin Giwa
The Nigerian Army is said to have killed over 1000 people including none followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky when it launched a coordinated attack on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in December last year.
This was disclosed by Sheikh Abdulqadir Yaqoub, the elder brother of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in an interview with the popular Hausa newspaper Almizan.
Sheikh Abdulqadir said “the number of people killed is over one thousand by people’s estimations in fact those killed are over a thousand from what transpired, everybody in Zaria knows that”.
The Sheikh explained that those killed included none members of the Islamic Movement passing by during the killing spree saying, “It was not only the followers of Sheikh Zakzaky that were killed, even innocent passerby were killed in cold blood. There were some bankers passing by that were killed. You know bank workers hardly close early from work. It is said that they too were killed in cold blood. I know a relation of Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jafaru that was just passing by and was shot by the soldiers. There are very many of such cases.”
He condemned the army brutality describing it as lacking civility and un-Islamic, “How can you attack and kill someone just like that? Even if one commits a crime he must be tried and prosecuted by a court of law before he gets killed. In Islam it is even forbidden to kill women during war, it is forbidden to kill women, old people and small children” he said.
He added, “What we know of civility in Islam is that even if someone does something wrong that would attract a death sentence, you don’t just attack him and kill him. He has to be arrested and taken to a court of law and be sentenced to death by the court.”
He further explained, “Islam is well organized and would not allow such brutality and incivility. In Islam you don’t just kill people like that you have to take him to court and get him prosecuted first and if he is sentenced to death then he will be executed accordingly. You cannot just go and kill someone and claim that you killed him because he deserves to be killed. This cannot happen under the Islamic system because the system is well organized.”
On whether he would make a submission to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna state government on the pogrom he expressed lack of confidence in the commission giving his reasons as the negligence by the authorities in implementing the findings of such commissions.
“One thing in this country is that once you are oppressed the best is to leave it to God. Several commissions of inquiry have been formed in the past that have ended up with nothing. They have never been effective. For instance in the past when I was working in Southern Zaria during the Zangon Kataf and Kafanchan crises the same commissions were formed to look into the crises but nothing has been heard of the outcome since then and many people were killed but nothing was done” he said.
Contrary to his half-brother Sheikh Sani Yaqoub who supported what the Army did, Sheikh Abdulqadir said he is most worried and disturbed about what befell Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky saying, “I am most disturbed and worried about the attack.”
He advised the authorities to always adopt the right procedures in whatever actions they take to avoid unwanted destruction of lives, “My call is that whatever happens, an investigation should be made. If a person does something wrong that he deserves to be punished it should be investigated with civility and not just clampdown on people and kill them incessantly” he said.
He condemned those supporting the Army brutality and describing it as a jihad saying it has nothing to do with the Islamic jihad, “Some dumb-minded are claiming that what happened was a jihad, there is indeed a jihad in Islam but it has its rule and regulations. They can’t just go and kill innocent people and you claim that it is jihad. Whatever involves life of a human being is not to be joked with.”
He further warned of the danger of shedding innocent blood explaining that it causes a lot of disaster to humanity saying “Indiscriminate killing of human beings causes a lot of disasters. Whatever his crime, even if he deserves to be killed, he must be convicted of the crime and prosecuted by a court of law and not just be killed at will. If he is able to defend himself that’s all and if not then he gets prosecuted and executed. How can you go and kill people just like that?”
Sheikh Abdulqadir, the eldest brother of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky described Sheikh Zakzaky as an intelligent and a gifted person that is a rare gem “He is a kind of those people described as a gift from God. You can gather thousands of people and will not find his match. He is gifted and most intelligent. He is one of the few people that God has blessed with wisdom. He is also very knowledgeable and understanding when it comes to learning” he said.
Source: www.newsrescue.com

Gov El-Rufai reportedly stoned by angry youths in Kaduna

Daily Post reports that Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state was on Sunday, April 24, stoned by angry youths in a local government area.
According to eyewitnesses, the governor was at Unguwar Yero area Kaduna north local government on Sunday after an inter-communal clash left about six people dead, but the angry youths threw stones at him.

Recall that there was a clash in the local government area between two communities of Unguwar Yero and Badawara Kwaru after a married man caught his wife with her alleged concubine.
And when the governor arrived at Unguwar Yero on Sunday night to broker peace, he was stoned by the angry youths.
An eyewitness also added: “When the governor arrived the area, the angry youths didn’t even allow him to speak, they just started chanting ‘bama so’, meaning, ‘we don’t want’.”
Speaking also, another eyewitness identified as Emmanuel Kaja said: “But, what got people of the area angry is that, the governor later came begging the people to be patient without taking action to bring the culprit to book.
“That was why Unguwar Yero people also started attacking people suspected to be Hausa-Muslim.”
It was gathered that after El-Rufai’s visit, the crisis started taking religious and ethnic dimensions as groups from both communities resorted to attacking people identified as members of the opposite ethnic or religious group.
The youths in the area were said to have attacked two traders on Wednesday morning as tension began to mount in the area again.
Daily Post reports that the Kaduna state police public relations officer, Zubairu Abubakar, did not take calls to his phone when contacted for an update on the matter.
Source: www.naij.com

Nigeria’ll boil if Jonathan is arrested, Northern CAN warns
ON April 27, 2016

By Luka Binniyat
KADUNA—THE Northern branch of Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday advised President Muhammadu Buhari against purported moves to arrest former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying Nigeria would boil should the man regarded as the “hero of democracy” be arrested by the government.
The body urged President Buhari to focus on arresting the menace of marauding and murderous herdsmen, erratic power supply and an economy that was getting weaker since his assumption of office.
CAN, in a statement in Kaduna by its Public Relation Officer, PRO, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, one-time Adviser on Religious Affairs (Christians) to both late Governor Ibrahim Yakowa and former Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State said: “Every honest Nigeria knows that the feelers on the ground are that this administration’s popularity is dwindling rapidly among the Nigerian people. It is therefore not advisable to think or plan to arrest former president Goodluck Jonathan. Let me warn that such a misadventure will set a wrong precedent and only open door for mischievous people to set this nation into confusion. What Nigerians need urgently is availability of fuel, electricity, prompt salary, security of lives and properties etc.
“If the purported plan to arrest Jonathan is to please the international community and prove to them that we are fighting corruption, then let us know that these same international community are busy celebrating him as hero of democracy and even those who seriously wanted him to go for a change to happen are now singing a new song about him. Former President Jonathan is deservedly seen in Nigeria and beyond as a hero of democracy because of his actions before, during and after the 2015 elections. As such, it will be curious for the Buhari administration to initiate the arrest of such a statesman.
''Government must know that there are individuals serving today that have also been accused of corruption, but since there are claims that nothing has been established against them, they are walking and speaking like saints. While ignoring all these people, government now wants to arrest a man of peace like Jonathan?
According to the statement: “CAN Northern states wishes to advice that such an action, if actualized, has the capacity to lead to serious confusion that will affect Nigeria economically and otherwise. We are afraid that such an action may spark chain reaction.
“If our President wants to arrest anything for now then he should arrest the incessant spate of herdsmen attacks in Nigeria which has led to the deaths of almost a thousand innocent Nigerians under his watch. He should arrest the dangerous slide in the power sector; he should arrest the slide in the economy. We believe at this time and with the current realities our former president must not be denigrated but honoured, because honour must be given to whom it is due.”
Source: www.vanguardngr.com

Vanguard Newspaper WE HANDED OVER ‘FEW CORPSES,’ UNLESS EL-RUFAI KILLED THE REST, MILITARY DENIES 347 BODIES CONFESSION The military refused to give the number At least 1000 are reported killed or otherwise missing since the military action The Kaduna state government confessed after it noticed Amnesty International was investigating the mass grave at Mando and about to give a report The Nigerian Army and the Kaduna State Government on Monday differed on the number of corpses released for mass burial during the December 15, 2015 clash between members of the Shi’ite sect and the Army in Zaria, Kaduna State. While the government had said at previous hearing of the Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba-led commission that, at least, 347 corpses were handed over to its officials by the Army for mass burial, the Army claimed it handed over just “few” corpses to the government. The Army refused to release the figures it handed over to the government while testifying before the commission on the Army/ Shi’ites clash on Monday. The Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, had at the previous sitting of the commission, said not less than 347 unknown corpses from the last December clash were given a mass burial in Kaduna few days after the clash. Also, the Director General of Interfaith, Muhammad Musa, had concurred by claiming that he led the burial of the unknown corpses and that it was carried out between 12am and 5am. Musa had said, “On 13th December, I received a phone call from the Secretary to the State Governor to come to the Government House, after which I was directed to go to Zaria to find out the number of corpses and how they would be buried. “At the Nigerian Army Depot, the SSG directed me to meet with one Major Ogundare regarding the corpses there. After introducing myself, he refused to let me know the number; but later on, the SSG called me and told me the number.” However, the Nigerian Army maintained on Monday that few corpses, and not the 347 corpses, were handed over to the government for burial. At the resumed sitting of the commission on Monday, a medical officer from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Major Uche Agulana, told the commission that contrary to the state government’s claim that 347 corpses were buried in a mass grave, he handed over few corpses to the representative of the state government. Agulana, when cross examined by the counsel for the commission to give the actual figure of the dead, said he did not keep the record of the deaths as, according to him, he was busy at that time “trying to save lives that were brought into the hospital.” Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr. com/2016/04/controversy - army-kaduna-number-buried-shiites-members-dif fers/

Army/Shiite clash: Panel summons Army officers to explain source of 191 corpses
POSTED BY SEGUN ADEBOWALE ON
APRIL 26, 2016
Lawal-Garba gave the order shortly after Major General Olaniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Kaduna, re-appeared to clarify the controversy surrounding the 191 corpses recovered from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria
The Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry into the December 12, 2015 Shiite/Army clash in Zaria, Kaduna State has ordered the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Depot Zaria, Brigadier General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to appear before it.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammed Lawal-Garba, gave the order at the resumed sitting of the panel on Monday in Kaduna.
Lawal-Garba also ordered the Depot Commandant to appear with five other senior officers on Wednesday.
Lawal-Garba gave the order shortly after Major General Olaniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Kaduna, re-appeared to clarify the controversy surrounding the 191 corpses recovered from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.
Lawal-Garba also directed that the leader of the Cordon and Search Operation, Lieutenant Colonel O. O. Odufua , who allegedly arrested Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, to appear before it.
On cross examination, the GOC confirmed that he only received verbal information about the 191 corpses that were evacuated from the depot for the mass burial in Mando.
The Army during its first appearance before the panel denied knowledge of the death of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria during the search in Gyellesu area of Zaria.
However, the Kaduna State Government in its submission announced that 347 persons were killed during the Army operation at Gyellesu and Husseinia areas in Zaria.
Oyebade had appeared alongside the Medical Officer at the Depot, Major Uche Ogulanna, to explain the source of the corpses.
Oyebade was also called to identify the officer who gave the order for the search of the homes of the IMN leaders as well as members.
The commission directed the officers to appear before it and explain their roles during the December 12 to 14, 2015 clash between the Army and the Members of IMN in Zaria.
It would be recalled that 191 of the corpses were transported from the Army Depot, Zaria to Mando Cemetery where 347 corpses were given mass burial.
The mass burial was supervised by the officials of the Kaduna State Government and the officers of the Nigerian Army on December 15.
The panel adjourned its sitting till Wednesday to enable it visit the areas affected in Zaria on Tuesday.
Source: www.theeagleonline.com.ng

JCI: THE SHIITES MADE HISTORY DEFENDING CHURCHES FROM BOKO HARAM IN KADUNA APRIL 24, 2016

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As various witnesses are called to micro analyze aspects of the social and religious record of the Shia Muslims popularly called the “Shiites” in Kaduna over 40 years, one can anticipate the invitation of persons like Pastor Yohanna Buru, head of Christ Evangelical Church to testify about the rather unusual and historic interfaith tolerance acts of the Shiites and Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN.
Nigeria and indeed the world went abuzz and was lighted up with rather unusual news of Muslims defending Churches in Kaduna, the December of 2014. This as Boko Haram terror against Churches and other related and unrelated frictions had made Kaduna a hotbed of Muslim vs Christian deadly clashes leading to a notably high level of intolerance and strife with recurrent eruptions of severe violence that had left hundreds dead and a nation further divided.
This story of Muslims defending Churches also came as Nigeria headed to its frictional Presidential elections with former President Goodluck Jonathan being noted to perambulate from Church to Church whipping up religious sentiments and investing heavily in attempting to create a sharper divide between Muslims and Christians in hopes of securing a Christian consolidated victory.
The news suddenly had it that a group of some 200 Muslims in Kaduna had engaged with Christians during the Christmas including at a particular Church of famous interfaith dialogue Pastor Yohanna Buru, and that these “different” Muslims had former a perimeter around the Churches, as a shield against any attacks from Boko Haram.
The news was shocking. As it reverberated around the world, people could hardly believe it. Muslims in Nigeria’s Kaduna defending Churches from Boko Haram? As a representative of Muslims Against Terror, another group that had invested since 2012 in communiqués that promoted this kind of activity (See: Communiqué: Fear None Save Allah. Defend Islam, Defend People, Defend Churches, Defend Nation) and saw how it permanently averted Boko Haram terror against Churches with the terror group refocusing on Muslims and giving up on its initial sinister plan to trigger sectarian crises and get the Muslims and Christians to fight and kill each other on its happy behalf, I was particularly impressed beyond measure.
The Muslim Holy book says of such actions in chapter 22 verse 40: “Those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah (The God). And had there not been Allah’s repelling some people by means of others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.”
The globally broadcast news of Muslims defending Churches in Kaduna was so different and stunning Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN President Ayo Oritsejafor rejected it, especially as it had immense benefit in destroying the major political strategy of the Jonathan camp in utilizing anti-Boko Haram sentiment, to fanatically ‘mislead’ and coalesce Christians into an anti-Boko Haram and in effect, anti-north (Buhari) frenzy. (Refer to Bishop Oyedepo’s sermons declaring his ‘appointment’ to slay and defeat Boko Haram by stoping the return of northern rule).
Later as the story was further confirmed with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports and photo images and other evidence appearing across the media , it was found that it was the so-called Shiites, or better put, Muslim volunteers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN that had done this benevolent, unique and historic act that aided Muslim-Christian relations not only in Nigeria but across the world, and frustrated Boko Haram, ISIS and al-Qaeda and aided the victory of President Buhari by delivering a decisive, deadly blow to politics of religious sentiments.
The National Coordinator of Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi was reported in the media to have described the action by the Muslim youths as a “wonderful act of brotherhood that would go a long way to promote unity, understanding, tolerance and stability in the state.
Pastor Buru, expected to testify at the Justice Mohammed Garba-led judicial panel, JCI, had said, “I really appreciate their love and care… the essence of that was to protect the Christian worshippers as part of effort to strengthen peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the state.” [BibleInc]
Further saying, “We are happy to have them in our church to come and worship with us at the same time offer us protection. I am delighted with the development. We call you here not as guests, but as brothers and neighbours. We urge Muslims and Christians to reconcile and forgive one another before the re-emergence of the awaited saviours.”
Dr. Shu’aibu Musa, is reported to have extended the goodwill message of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to the Christian faithfuls at Christmas and called for more collaboration to rid the society of religious extremism.
This was one of the first times many of us noticed and paid attention to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria or so-called Shiites-majority organization that had done something so divinely different, it had broken all stereotypes of Nigeria and its Muslims. It was at this time that some of us noticed other similar and rather extraordinary benevolent acts the movement known today more for the notoriety of the consequences of its millions-large numbers and their stressing and inconvenient street marches, was recognized for in community building and fostering inter and intra-faith peace, as a result of which the Shiites or Islamic movement had been recognized and given Peace awards by the government of Kaduna state.
We look forward to Buru and others’ testimonies at the panel.
Source: www.newsrescue.com

Amnesty Report Details Hundreds Burned Alive, Mass Grave Satellite Imagery, Military Cover-up In Nigeria’s #ZariaMasscare
Hundreds shot, beaten and burned alive
Satellite pictures reveal site of possible mass grave
Mass slaughter of hundreds of men, women and children by soldiers in Zaria and the attempted cover-up of this crime demonstrates an utter contempt for human life and accountability, said Amnesty International as it publishes evidence gathered on the ground revealing how the Nigerian military burned people alive, razed buildings and dumped victims’ bodies in mass graves.
The report, Unearthing the truth: Unlawful killings and mass cover-up in Zaria contains shocking eyewitness testimony of large-scale unlawful killings by the Nigerian military and exposes a crude attempt by the authorities to destroy and conceal evidence.
“The true horror of what happened over those two days in Zaria is only now coming to light. Bodies were left littered in the streets and piled outside the mortuary. Some of the injured were burned alive,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for Africa.
“Our research, based on witness testimonies and analysis of satellite images, has located one possible mass grave. It is time now for the military to come clean and admit where it secretly buried hundreds of bodies.”
More than 350 people are believed to have been unlawfully killed by the military between 12 and 14 December, following a confrontation between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and soldiers in Zaria,Kaduna state.
IMN supporters – some armed with batons, knives, and machetes – had refused to clear the road near their headquarters, the Hussainiyya, for a military convoy to pass. The army has claimed that IMN supporters attacked the convoy in an attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff. IMN members deny this.
Following an initial confrontation the military surrounded other locations where IMN supporters had gathered, notably at the residential compound of IMN leader Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky. Some people were killed as a result of indiscriminate fire. Others appeared to have been deliberately targeted.
All available information indicates that the deaths of protestors were the consequence of excessive, and arguably, unnecessary use of force.
Children injured and Killed:
Zainab, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, told Amnesty International: “We were in our school uniforms. My friend Nusaiba Abdullahi was shot in her forehead. We took her to a house where they treated the injured but, before reaching the house, she already died.” A 10-year-old boy who was shot in the leg told Amnesty International how his older brother was shot in the head as they tried to leave the compound. “We went out to try to shelter in a nearby house but we got shot.”
Shot and burned alive
On 13 December, two buildings within Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky’s compound, one of which was being used as a makeshift medical facility and mortuary, were attacked by soldiers. Alyyu, a 22-year-old student, told Amnesty International that he was shot in the chest outside the compound and was taken inside for treatment: “There were lots of injured people in several rooms. There were dead bodies in a room and also in the courtyard. Around 12-1pm soldiers outside called on people to come out, but people were too scared to go out. We knew they would kill us. Soldiers threw grenades inside the compound. I saw one soldier on the wall of the courtyard shooting inside.”
One mother described a phone conversation with one of her 19-year-old sons before he was killed alongside his twin brother and their step brother and sister in the compound. “They are shooting those injured one by one,” he told her.
As soldiers set fire to the makeshift medical facility in the compound that afternoon, Yusuf managed to escape despite serious gunshot wounds: “Those who were badly injured and could not escape were burned alive,” he told Amnesty International. “I managed to get away from the fire by crawling on my knees until I reached a nearby house where I was able to hide until the following day. I don’t know how many of the wounded were burned to death. Tens and tens of them.”
Footage believed to have been shot on mobile phone by IMN supporters after the incident shows bodies with gunshot wounds as well as charred bodies strewn around the compound.
Cover-up
After the incident the military sealed off the areas around al-Zakzaky’s compound, the Hussainiyya and other locations. Bodies were taken away, sites were razed to the ground, the rubble removed, bloodstains washed off, and bullets and spent cartridge removed from the streets.
Witnesses saw piles of bodies outside the morgue of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria. The hospital’s Chief Medical Officer told Amnesty International that the military sealed off the area around the morgue for two days. During that time he saw army vehicles “coming and going”.
A witness described to Amnesty International what he saw outside the hospital mortuary on the evening of 14 December: “It was dark and from far I could only see a big mound but when I got closer I saw it was a huge pile of corpses on top of each other. I have never seen so many dead bodies. I got very scared and run away. It was a terrible sight and I can’t get it out of my mind.”
Another witness told the organisation how he had seen diggers excavating holes at the site of the suspected mass grave: “There were five or six large trucks and several smaller military vehicles and they spent hours digging and unloading the trucks’ cargo into the hole they dug and then covered it again with the earth they had dug out. They were there from about 1 or 2 am until about 5 am. I don’t know what they buried. It looked like bodies, but I could not get near.”
Amnesty International identified and visited the location of a possible mass grave near Mando. Satellite images of the site taken on 2 November and 24 December 2015 show disturbed earth spanning an area of approximately 1000 square metres. Satellite pictures also show the complete destruction of buildings and mosques.
“It is clear that the military not only used unlawful and excessive force against men, women and children, unlawfully killing hundreds, but then made considerable efforts to try to cover-up these crimes,” said Netsanet Belay.
“Four months after the massacre the families of the missing are still awaiting news of their loved ones. A full independent forensic investigation is long overdue. The bodies must be exhumed, the incident must be impartially and independently investigated and those responsible must be held to account.”
BACKGROUND
On Monday 25 April, the military are expected to give evidence to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by the Kaduna State Government in January 2016. On 11 April, a Kaduna State government official told the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that the bodies of 347 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were collected from the hospital mortuary and an army depot in Zaria and buried secretly in a mass grave near Mando (outside the town of Kaduna) on the night of 14-15 December. The IMN claim a further 350 people who went missing during the incidents in Zaria remain unaccounted for.
During field research carried out in Kaduna state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in February 2016, Amnesty International delegates interviewed 92 people, including victims and their relatives, eyewitnesses, lawyers and medical personnel. Attempts were made to interview members of the military.
IMN leader Al-Zakzaky and his wife Zeinat Al-Zakzaky were arrested and held incommunicado. They were only allowed access to their lawyer for the first time on 1 April 2015, three and a half months after their arrest. Amnesty International has not had access to those who remain in detention but has received information from medical sources that some of the detainees were not allowed access to necessary medical care for several weeks after their arrest.
Amnesty International is calling for those IMN supporters charged in connection with this incident to be tried promptly and fairly and for those still held in detention without charge to be either immediately charged or released.
For any interviews or more information please contact
In London: Amnesty International’s press office on +44 20 7413 5566 or +44 (0)77 7847 2126, orpress@amnesty.org or stefan.simanowitz@amnesty.org
For any interviews or more information please contact Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Media Manager on +2348039567128 or abdulrazaque.belloba@amnesty.org.ng
For photos and satellite images: visit https://adam.amnesty.org/asset-bank/images/assetbox/41b0b000-b9a1-4562-93e2-a61635a2fa24/assetbox.html
Read more: http://newsrescue.com/amnesty-report-details-hundreds-burned-alive-mass-grave-satellite-imagery-military-cover-up-in-zariamasscare/#ixzz46TxvcyzI

Masari sends kids to public school, El- Rufa’i declines
By Habibu Umar Aminu, Katsina & Christiana T. Alabi, Kaduna
Publish Date: Apr 14 2016
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has sent two of his school-age children to a public school after pledging to do so in his last year’s election campaigns but his Kaduna State counterpart Nasir El-Rufa’i has not. Governor Masari had also directed top public officers to send their wards to public-funded schools and majority were said to have complied. Prior to the directive, most officials opted for private schools in educating their children due to decaying facilities in public schools.
Masari’s kids are at the Family Support Primary School in Katsina. The Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, and the former Chief of Staff, Dikko Radda, as well as some commissioners have also enrolled their kids in the school.
Daily Trust gathered that most government officials have enrolled their wards at the Family Support School which boasts of the best facilities and teachers. More teachers were sent to the school while computer courses were introduced after Masari’s children were admitted.
However, Governor El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, who pledged to enroll his children in public school during his political campaigns, has not done so.
A high-ranking state official who would not want to be named. said “the governor’s children are not in Kaduna.”
Another source close to the governor's family, who cited security concerns, said that none of El-Rufai’s children is in public primary or secondary schools.
Source: www.dailytrust.com.ng

US Government Slams Buhari, DSS, Army, Police For Human Rights Abuses.
By Idoreyin Sampson Apr 15, 2016
The United States government has released a damning report which indicts President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for human rights abuses, injustice, and brutality at all levels.
The report, released by the US Department of State, accuses security agencies like the Department of State Security Services (DSS, also called SSS) which report directly to the president of gross abuse of power, human rights abuses, torture, arbitrary and unlawful detentions, and brutality. The 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices authored by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour was published on April 13, 2016.
The 18,662-word report highlights the Zaria Massacre which was perpetuated by the Nigerian Army under the command of General Yusuf Buratai and indicates that the Nigerian Army under President Buhari is guilty of genocide not just against the Shi’ites but minority ethnic groups in Plateau.
“The army troops killed an undetermined number–possibly hundreds according to some credible reports–of members of the Shia group Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Zaria, Kaduna State, following an altercation at a roadblock that disrupted the convoy of the chief of army staff,” the report noted.
The report also notes that untold human rights abuses in Nigeria are perpetuated by the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram. The US government noted that the world’s most deadly terrorist organisation has committed genocide in the North East of Nigeria targeting Christians and school children. One of Buhari first executive actions when he assumed office was to approved amnesty for Boko Haram and the Nigerian military recently created as Safe Corridor for the terrorists in the theatre of war .
“The most serious human rights abuses included those committed by Boko Haram, which conducted numerous attacks on government and civilian targets that resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, widespread destruction, the internal displacement of an estimated 1.8 million persons, and the external displacement of 220,000 Nigerian refugees to neighbouring countries,” the report states.
“Boko Haram continued to abduct men, women, and children, often in conjunction with large-scale attacks on communities. The group forced men, women, and children to fight on its behalf,” the report notes the tragic incidences of gender related crimes by the Islamist terrorist group.
“Women and girls abducted by Boko Haram were subjected to physical and psychological abuse; forced labor; forced marriage; forced religious conversions; forced participation in military operations; and sexual abuse, including rape.
“While the abductions of some of the women and girls seemed arbitrary, many of the victims appeared to have been targeted because they were students or Christians. Boko Haram also used women and girls to lure security forces into an ambush, force payment of ransoms, leverage prisoner exchanges, or provide wives to fighters,” the US government explained.
The Nigerian Army is also accused of using rape and torture as weapons of war in waging the war against Boko Haram. “In response to Boko Haram’s violent attacks and at times to crimes and insecurity in general security services perpetrated extra-judicial killings, and engaged in torture, rape, arbitrary detention, mistreatment of detainees, and destruction of property,” the report says.
“The country also suffered from widespread societal unrest, including ethnic, regional, and religious violence. Other serious human rights problems included vigilante killings; prolonged pre-trial detention, often in facilities with poor conditions; denial of fair public trial; executive influence on the judiciary; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights; and restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and movement.
“There were reports during the year of official corruption; violence against women and children, including female genital mutilation/cutting; infanticide; sexual exploitation of children; trafficking in persons; early and forced marriages; discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; discrimination based on ethnicity, regional origin, religion, and disability; forced and bonded labour; and child labour,” the report added.
The report also noted that Buhari has failed in delivering his promise of ‘change’, noting that widespread impunity continues at all levels of government, saying: “Although President Buhari’s administration began initial steps to curb corruption, authorities did not investigate or punish the majority of cases of police or military abuse.
“Boko Haram perpetrated numerous attacks, often directly targeting civilians. The group, which recruited and forcefully conscripted child soldiers, carried out bombings–including suicide bombings–and attacks on population centres in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Plateau, and Yobe States.
“In some cases, the group employed women and children as suicide bombers. The government investigated these attacks but prosecuted only a few members of Boko Haram.”
It said between November 2014 and February 2015, Boko Haram abducted more than 500 women and 1,000 children from one local government area in Borno State alone; subjecting many abducted women and girls to sexual and gender-based violence, including forced marriages and rape.
“Organised criminal forces in the southern and middle parts of the country committed abuses, such as kidnappings. Violence between farmers and herders in the North-central states claimed hundreds of lives,” it said.
The military and police were also indicted for using lethal and excessive force to disperse protesters in the country. Of recent, unarmed pro-Biafra protesters have been killed by Nigerian soldiers and activists have discovered mass graves and secret mortuaries where soldiers dumped the corpses of protesters after murdering them.
The report says Nigerian security agencies “used lethal and excessive force to apprehend criminals and suspects as well as to disperse protesters” and the government failed to hold the troops who committed these crimes accountable.
“Authorities generally did not hold police, military, or other security force personnel accountable for the use of excessive or deadly force or for the deaths of persons in custody. State and federal panels of inquiry investigating suspicious deaths did not make their findings public.
“Security forces’ use of excessive force, including live ammunition, to disperse demonstrators resulted in numerous killings,” it added.
Source: www.thetrentonline.com

8 case files opened against Nigeria at ICC
Apr 14 2016

Eight cases of human rights abuses are pending against Nigeria at the International Criminal Court at the Hague.
A delegation from the office of Madame Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague was in Abuja on Wednesday in connection with the cases. The delegation intended to investigate them as part of the assessment of the Nigerian situation.
Six of the alleged cases were committed by the Boko Haram sect while the remaining two are by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
It was not clear whether a recent filing by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria alleging the genocide of Nigeria’s military against its defenceless members, was among.

Minister of Justice and attorney-general, Abubakar Malami during a meeting with the ICC delegation, expressed the Nigerian government’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of human rights, including during counter insurgency operations in the country.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Salihu Isah, the minister assured the delegation that Nigeria had high value for its relationship with the ICC.
Malami said that the Nigerian Army has conducted its operations in the North East region of the country in a highly professional manner, imbibing best practices in the areas of international human rights.
He also said that he was aware of the eight case files against Nigeria.
He insisted that Nigeria had the prerogative rights in handling the alleged crimes referred to in the prosecutor’s 2015 report of activities in the country.
“Let me reiterate that Nigeria retains the sovereign capacity to investigate and punish the alleged crimes referred to in the report and will therefore continue present efforts in the above direction.’’
He however solicited the support and understanding of ICC and the international community especially in regards to the conduct of the affairs of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Responding, the leader of delegation, Mr. Phakiso Choko, said that the prosecutor did not intend to compromise the sovereign rights of Nigeria in investigating crimes and meting out punishment.
He said that most cases referred to the ICC were the ones host nations were unable to resolve through internal mechanism.
The prosecutor, through the delegation expressed support and willingness to work with Nigeria in addressing all identified crimes and criminality against humanity.
Source: www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng

Nigerian army being investigated for human rights crimes by ICC:
By Andrew Sweeney
-The International Criminal Court has launched an investigation into alleged human rights abuses committed by Nigeria
– Nigerian army soldiers have been accused of committing atrocities while fighting against Boko Haram
– The federal government has said it was ready to fully cooperate while retaining its sovereign right to punish law breakers
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has started the process of investigating alleged human rights abuses committed by the Nigerian military.
The Netherlands-based court will also investigate abuses by Boko Haram, the terror group whose activities have caused the death of at least 20,000 people in Nigeria since 2009.
The Nigerian military has been accused of illegal killings and incarceration by local and international groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
However, on Wednesday, the Nigerian government expressed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of human rights in the conduct of all its affairs, including counter insurgency operations in the country.
The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made the pledge when he received a delegation from the office of Madame Fatou Bensouda, the ICC Prosecutor.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Salihu Isah, the minister assured the delegation that Nigeria had high value for its relationship with the ICC. Mr Malami said that the Nigerian army has conducted its operations in the North East region of the country in a highly professional manner, imbibing the best practices regarding international human rights. He also said that he was aware of the eight case files opened against Nigeria by the ICC which the prosecutor intended to investigate in her next stage of assessment of Nigeria.
According to him, six of the alleged cases were committed by Boko Haram while the remaining two were carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The minister insisted that Nigeria had the prerogative rights in handling the alleged crimes referred to in the prosecutor’s 2015 report of activities in the country.
“Let me reiterate that Nigeria retains the sovereign capacity to investigate and punish the alleged crimes referred to in the report and will therefore continue present efforts in the above direction,” Mr Malami insisted.
He further added that the government was committed to ensuring that troops were guided by the rules of engagement, promising that any infractions would be severely dealt with.
He solicited the support and understanding of ICC and the international community especially in regards to the conduct of the affairs of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Responding, the leader of delegation Phakiso Choko said that the prosecutor did not intend to compromise the sovereign rights of Nigeria in investigating crimes and meting out punishment.
He said that most cases referred to the ICC were the ones host nations were unable to resolve through internal mechanism. The prosecutor, through the delegation, expressed her support and willingness to work with Nigeria in addressing all identified crimes and criminality against humanity.
The news comes amid growing calls for the Nigerian military and security forces to be investigated for carrying out atrocities against pro-Biafra agitators and Shiites.
Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has come under renewed pressure to resign and apologise for the army’s actions in Zaria last December when hundreds of Shiite Muslims were killed by his soldiers.
Source:Naija.com

#ZariaMassacre, #BringBackOurGirls put Nigeria on global digital trends
First, it is about the call by the global civil rights groups on the government to ensure that those responsible for the #ZariaMassacre are brought to justice.
The dust raised by the revelation of the Kaduna State Government that the remains of 347 victims of the clash between the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and the Nigeria Army had yet to settle when the world joined Nigeria to mark the second anniversary of the Chibok girls. This led to the resuscitation of the hitherto forgotten #BringBackOurGirls hashtag.
The National Human Rights Commission had taken to Twitter to demand that the remains of those killed in the Zaria killings be exhumed for autopsy.
The NHRC’s position came amid global online protest against the way Kaduna State Government handled the matter.
The Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Balarabe Lawal, on Monday, at a public hearing organised by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry stated that about 347 people, who died during the clash, were given a mass burial.
Following the revelations, hundreds of social media users had taken on the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on the issue, with many describing his action as “irresponsible.” This came as #ZariaMassacre gained traction on the Internet and trended across different digital platforms.
The NHRC, which joined the online protest, called on el-Rufai and his team to exhume the bodies for further examination. The commission, which said the world would want to know how they were killed, dismissed the argument that Islam disallowed autopsy.
The commission added, “Islam is for justice, you cannot kill and say Islam precludes autopsy. Now that #ZariaMassacre inquiry has learnt that the victims were buried in mass graves, will it do right and order them to be exhumed? Will it do right and visit the site?”
The rights commission also accused the Kaduna State Government of complicity, saying it connived with the Nigerian Army to bury the victims in order to destroy available evidence.
In a series of tweets, it stated, “When a non-complicit government finds hundreds of its citizens dead, it would first try to identify the victims. It would arrange to inform and condole with the families and not bury the dead hurriedly.”
Besides the NHRC’s posts, hundreds of Nigerians, foreigners and groups were on the social media to react to the development.
The Amnesty International, for instance, said the acknowledgment of the extrajudicial killings by the state government echoed its earlier findings. Posting on Twitter and website a statement by its Country Director in Nigeria, Mohammed Ibrahim, AI urged the government to come out clean on the matter. The group also noted that it would soon publish its independent report on the matter.
Also, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, lambasted the civil society groups, accusing them of not doing enough to demand justice for affected families.
Adetutu Balogun, an online activist, who claimed to have created the famous #NoToSocialMediaBill hashtag, urged the Army to justify the reason Shi’ites were killed in such a large number when “stones and catapults” did not kill a single soldier.
In a statement that has been posted on its website, the Islamic Human Rights Commission insisted that the massacre, which it described as a “crime against humanity” was to curb the growing influence of Shi’ites in the country.
“The IHRC believes that the Army’s assault amounts to a crime against humanity. A similar military assault in July 2014, during a religious procession, led to the deaths of 34 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, including three sons of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who were apparently singled out for execution,” the United Kingdom-based organisation said.
Lawal had explained that the state government took the decision to bury the victims when it realised that they threatened to overwhelm mortuaries in the state. This, he said, was in accordance with the obligations of the government under international laws.
On Thursday, #BringBackOurGirls, perhaps, the most popular Nigeria-created hashtag so far, regained its strength as the world sympathised with the families of schoolgirls, who were kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014.
The AI, Women in the World, A World at School and several other international bodies took to social media to express their frustration over the Nigerian government’s inability to locate and rescue the girls. Foreign and local media also dedicated their social media pages to the commemoration. As of 2pm on Thursday, #BringBackOurGirls had polled over 22,000 tweets.
On Twitter, A World at School described the plight of the girls as “a symbol of our inability to protect young lives.”
Source:PUNCH.

Buhari is National Embarrassment,” Cardinal John Onaiyekan Blasts The President
by WATSON

April 15
2016
Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari over disregarding court orders, demanding the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
He said: “There is no sign that Nigeria has the president. The problem President Buhari has is that many Nigerians want to continue as they were doing before and they want everybody else to change, but not themselves.”
“Democracy is all about the rule of law. Three times he has disobeyed court orders in less than a year in office. “Disobedience to court orders by those who should protect and ensure its compliance slides the Nation to anarchy.
“It is wrong to undermine the Constitution of Nigeria which is the bases of the Nigerian nation and expects people not to resist such via protesting. For those supporting president can you please justify why he has refused to obey court orders?
The prominent cleric added: “My dear President Buhari, it will be in the best interest of the nation that you obey court orders and apologize to the nation for the embarrassments you have caused us which have led to peaceful demonstrations in virtually major parts of Southern Nigeria.
“You should in the best interest of the nation set up a truth and reconciliation committee and compensate families of those killed. You should have obeyed as ordered by the court; ask your DSS to obey court orders, release Nnamdi Kanu and tender an unreserved apology to him for the embarrassments you have caused him, his wife, family, and millions of his followers by detaining him and infringing on his rights without good reason.”
Kanu was arrested in Lagos in October on conspiracy and terrorism charges, which were later dropped.
Source: www.theheraldng.com

#Zaria Massacre: Who ordered who?

On broad daylight, on 12th of December, 2015, a group of fully armed Nigerian military launched a gruesome massacre on the peaceful members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria.

The attack started on Saturday 12th in the movement's center Husainiyya Baqiyatullah with the pretext of "road blockage and an assassination attempt on COAS"

They shoot people indiscriminately at the pose, they killed several people and whisk away with their dead bodies. They shoot continuously and unthinkably and they later seiged Husainiyya and all the people inside.

In that very day some of them moved and also seiged the residence of the movement's leader in Gyallesu, there they mercilessly killed and burn people including women and young children alive! The revered leader himself was shot severally together with his wife after killing their children before their very eyes.

They similarly moved to the movement's another center at Dan Magaji, Fudiyya Islamic Center; killed all they found and destroy down the structure. They did the same in a cemetery where Martyrs of the movement were resting in peace beside exhuming the graves of the martyrs.

They gathered the dead bodies of those they killed and gave them mass burial without allowing their relatives access to them, without proper Islamic funeral been offered! They buried them indiscriminate of sex or age!

In a testimony to the Kangaroo panel commissioned by the Kaduna State government various people affirmed most of these crimes.

In his testimony, the spokesman of the military, Col. Kukasheka; who was at the forefront during their arrival at Husainiyya Baqiyatullah, said that "he has no idea of who ordered shooting on IMN members"

From all perspectives Kaduna state government is also trying to distance itself from the massacre. Considering the manner and mannerism it's lawyer in the Judicial Commission of enquiry is acting. Even the JCI was hypocritically commissioned to show that the Kaduna state government have no knowledge at all of what actually happened and to show that it cares for the right of it's citizens.

Earlier on the Federal government already distance itself from the massacre, and now Kaduna state government and Zazzau emirate council are trying to distance themselves from this gruesome crime against humanity and leave the military all alone.

One thing that is very clear is that the military cannot undertake this operation without being ordered to. But everything might be possible. We know that the Zionists and the Wahhabis were the masterminders of the operation! But who in this country ordered it? Was it the government that ordered the military? Or the military ordered themselves? Who actually ordered who?

#Secure recovery to Sheikh Zakzaky (H)
#Allah protect Sheikh Zakzaky (H)
#Free Sheikh Zakzaky (H)

Najeeb Umar Maigatari
Najeebumar86@gmail.com
Friday, April 15th,2016

#Zaria_Massacre:Testimony of the Nigerian police at the JCI

Today the Nigerian police testified in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) on the #Zaria_Massacre. The Nigerian police was represented by DSP Kenneth Dika. Among the questions the Head of #JCI asked him was that which "#weapons" did the Nigerian Army recover from members of #IMN during the Zaria massacre and handed over to the Nigerian police?

And DSP Kenneth Dika mentioned the following:

1. Locally-made pistol (1 piece)
2. Two petrol bombs
3. Bow & Arrows (21 pieces)
4. Slings (40 pieces)
5. MTN Sim cards
6. Reflecting Jacket (1 pieces)
7. Phones (18)
8. Phone chargers (17)
9. Eye glasses (3)

Then the Head of JCI asked the police officer whether these "weapons" can destroy the residence of Sheikh #Zakzaky and Zaria #Husseiniyya?

The police officer answered in the affirmative and pointed to the 2 petrol bombs!

The Head of the JCI then told him that all these "weapons" that you mentioned can not destroy that door! Everybody in the JCI burst out laughing.....

It is important to note that the Nigerian Army during the Zaria massacre were armed with sophisticated weapons that included AK-47 Assault rifles, Sniper rifles, APC ammoured vehicles, Battle Tanks, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), General Purpose Machine Guns etc.....

The above "weapons" mentioned by the Nigerian police are not real weapons used in modern warfare, one can not fight an Army like the Nigerian Army that is armed with modern sophisticated weapons with such archaic impliments, Sim cards, phones, phone chargers and glasses! Bow & Arrows are still used in Africa for local hunting on the local level.

And this testimony by the Nigerian police debunked the mischievous insinuations by the Nigerian Army that they were "shot at" by IMN members and they only retaliated in "self-defense". But the question is how can one called the brutal killing of close to 1000 unarmed Nigerian civilians as "self-defense"?

Finally, It remain for Nigerians to judge if the Zaria killings was a "clash" between the Nigerian Army and the IMN as the Nigerian regime have been promoting or it was a brutal massacre that involved heavily-armed Nigerian soldiers and defenseless and unarmed Nigerian civilians. And all the facts are now emerging of what actually took place in Zaria on the 12th, 13, & 14th December, 2015, and the general picture is becoming clearer. The fact remained that there was never a clash between the Nigerian Army and the IMN, what happened was a brutal slaughter by the Nigerian Army of Nigerian civilians and dumping their dead bodies in mass Graves.

#FreeZakzaky
#GodProtectZakzaky
Harun Elbinawi
elbinawi@yahoo.com

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DEMAND NIGERIA ARMY TO COME CLEAN ON #ZARIA MASSACRE
Amnesty International issued a press release today calling for an urgent investigation into the “slaughter and secret burial of 347 members of a Shi’ite religious group in mass graves by the Nigerian army.” Their statement follows testimony yesterday by a Kaduna State government official admitting that the military presided over the dumping of 347 civilians into mass graves after being killed by soldiers in Zaria.
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky after being attacked by the Nigerian military
SaharaReporters reported yesterday that Balarabe Lawal, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, stated at the public hearing of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the massacre that the 347 civilians were deposited into secret mass graves.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria Country Director, MK Ibrahim, stated that “The horrific revelation by the Kaduna State government that hundreds of Shi’ites were gunned down and dumped in mass graves is an important first step to bringing all those suspected of criminal responsibility for this atrocity to trial.”
He added that “it is now imperative that the mass grave sites are protected in order that a full independent forensic investigation can begin. The bodies must be exhumed and Nigerian authorities should immediately reveal the whereabouts of those held in unacknowledged detention and either charge or release them.”
The military’s massacre of Shi'ite Muslims in Zaria lasted from December 12th to December 14th 2015, according to SaharaReporters investigations and witness testimony. The military destroyed numerous sites of worship for the Shi'ite community and abducted the leader of the Shiite community Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who remains in custody with severe injuries.
Source: www.sahararepoters.com

BREAKING: KADUNA SSG TELLS PANEL WHERE GOVERNMENT MASS BURIED HUNDREDS OF ZARIA VICTIMS
NEWSRESCUE  APRIL 11, 2016
  
The SSG to the Kaduna State government, Lawal Balarabe Abbas has told the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) into the Zaria massacre where victims of the Zaria massacre of December last year were burried.
Babalare Abbas told the kangaroo panel Monday that they (the government) buried the Muslim (mainly Shia) dead that the Nigerian Army killed during its raids at Gyellesu residence of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, Husainiyyah and the Darul Rahma grave yard in a mass grave in the area of Mando.
Mando is in the outskirts of Kaduna Town, more than 80 Kilometers from the scenes of the massacres.
As reported by NewsRescue , activists had found evidence of the mass graves at the same Mando cemetery grounds but until the confession today, the Nigerian government had not admitted mass burying the victims there or even having mass killed the Muslim victims.
The Nigerian army claimed it only killed 7 Muslims during the event.
However from his testimony, Balarabe Abbas admitted for the first time that a total of 197 + 156 = 347 were mass buried in the Mando cemetery.
The Islamic movement of Nigeria has claimed that about 1000 victims are missing. The ABUTH hospital received about 300 bodies, which in addition to the 347 now acknowledged would reach about 647 killed so far according to government numbers. The Islamic movement released a list of 705, now about 800 missing persons. The confession by the Kaduna state government accounts for about half of the missing 805.
Source: www.newsrescue.com

N’ASSEMBLY ACCUSES PRESIDENCY OF LYING, SAYS NO LAGOS-CALABAR RAIL PROJECT IN 2016 BUDGET

NEWSRESCUE  APRIL 11, 2016
   

Skytrend
Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has refuted reports that the National Assembly removed the Lagos-Calabar Railway line project from the 2016 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Hon. Jibrin who cleared the air on the controversy, challenged the presidency to tell Nigerians where the project was included in the budget.
The Kano-born politician took to his verified Twitter handle and said thus:
@AbdulAbmJ. “I actually find it shocking that even some National Dailies made the removal their headlines. A little research would would have helped”.
“Lagos-Calabar Railway line was NEVER captured in the budget that was sent by the Executive. How then could it have been removed by NASS?”
“All they, and those spreading the false information needed to have done is check the initial document sent by the Executive”.
“Lagos-Calabar Rail was never included. How could NASS have removed what was not there? But the nation is being misled”.
“The NASS has always been on the receiving end of bad press. This is being capitalised on in the conversations on #Budget2016”
“This is unfortunate as it is quite clear to all and sundry that #Budget2016 and all its headaches and controversies didn’t emanate from NASS.”
See The Tweet Image Below:
Senator Jibrin’s Tweet Addressing The Issue
Jibrin’s position, according to Vanguard reports, was confirmed by civic tech organisation, BudgiT Nigeria, that there was no provision for the Lagos-Calabar rail in the 2016 Budget submitted by the president.
There have been reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is set to return the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly to rework because what the lawmakers sent to him on Thursday for assent, according to Presidency sources, fell below his expectations.
The presidency sources said that the President felt disappointed that provisions for major national projects and programmes that could turn around the economy were either outrightly removed or funds for them ridiculously slashed by the lawmakers.
Among the key projects removed from the budget by the lawmakers are the all-important Calabar-Lagos coastal rail line for which Buhari had made a provision of N60 billion in the 2016 estimates.
Source: www.newsrescue.com

Re:Show us El Zakzaky dead or alive within one week or Face Terror-Shi’a Muslim
 April 8, 2016 
My attention was draw to a news item on the “AfricanNews24” website with the above caption and was written by one Candy Stallworth. Just use the Google search engine and search for “Candy Stallworth” and you will see the pile of rubbish that is associated with this name. But for the sake of setting records straight I will respond to the most poisonous and toxic smear campaign of calumny so far against the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) under the leadership of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem # Zakzaky.
Those who masterminded and executed the brutal slaughter of close to 1000 defenseless and unarmed Nigerian civilians in Zaria and buried them in mass graves are desperate to associate the peaceful IMN with murderous terrorism to partly justify their inhuman massacre and partly to promote a foreign imperialist agenda. It is such people that recruited the services of fraudulent characters like Candy Stallworth and fraudulent websites like “AfricanNews24” to promote their evil Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi agenda in Nigeria.
Candy Stallworth wrote: “Shia Muslims give Buhari one week ultimatum to release El Zakzaky dead or alive or promise to sabotage Buhari’s government by bringing down top government and military officials in every month of this year along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway as they own up to the killing of the late Army colonel.”
All the Press Releases of IMN are public knowledge and there is nowhere that such ultimatum was give to the Nigerian government. The most recent letter the IMN wrote was when Femi Falana (SAN), who is among the leading legal Counsel to IMN, wrote to the Director-General of SSS and the whole content of that letter was made public.
The claim by Candy Stallworth that IMN “own up to the killing of the late Army Colonel” is a blatant lie that has no base. IMN categorically condemned all acts of terrorism and criminal acts that included the kidnapping of the unfortunate Army officer. And the Kaduna Commissioner of Police, Mallam Umaru Shehu, recently at a news briefing in Kaduna paraded the suspects that kidnapped the Army officer who was later found dead.
Candy Stallworth wrote: “The newly appointed leader of the group Alhassan Abdulkadri says if their demands are not met, they will bring down 4 federal ministers, 2 deputy Governors, 10 top military officials, 8 legislative members before the end of 2019.” Candy Stallworth must have gotten this sentence from the BokoHaram movie written by the sponsors of the murderous BokoHaram insurgency. Where did Candy Stallworth got the character “Alhassan Abdulkadri” from? Most probably from the BokoHaram script but IMN does not have such character and IMN has not appointed any new leader, the leader of IMN is Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
Then Candy Stallworth stated her agenda by wishing for the death of Rotimi Amaechi: “I dare President Muhammadu Buhari and the chief of Army staff to pass through that route (Kaduna-Abuja expressway) to kaduna. I also wish Amaechi will be the next minister they will bring down after James Ocholi.”
Finally, the wish of Candy Stallworth and her sponsors will never come to pass, this smear campaign of calumny and demonizion against IMN and it’s leadership will fail woefully just like the all others before it. Nigerians are wise and intelligent enough to see through these pack of lies and contradictions.
#FreeZakzaky
#GodProtectZakzaky
Haun Elbinawi
elbinawi@yahoo.com
Elbinawi.

HEAR THE LIARS AGAIN....!
They said today that the video clip released on 12th December, 2015 was not by them. They said it was released by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Are the military and NTA officials working protogonistically? What is the NTA officials going to videotape? Is that also according to their law of engagement? Are NTA officials eligible to wear military's uniform? Those people videotaping were seen in full military uniform!
Laughably, Kukasheka said one sister beat his chest. When and where Mr. Spokesman? And he dubiously failed to show her picture when the gallery of IMN members was shown to him. What a shame!!!
He also added that he was not the one who ordered the military to shot on IMN members. When he was asked, he said; I don't know, may be convoy commander." Imagine this bunch of lie by a so called Spokesman! How will on a spot military shoot without the consent or order of their spokesman?
He in the first stance said, "The IMN members possessed no gun or bomb" but when he was asked of the smoke seen arising from Husainiyyah Baqiyatullah, he dubiously stammered that "m-a-y be they possess it" Shame on you Mr. Speaker!!!
They said that the houses burnt in Gyallesu were as a result of a "petrol bomb" used by the IMN guardsmen and youths. May be they forgot the video they released showing burnt people in the residence of Sheikh Zakzaky (H). Are the people burnt by their IMN counterparts? How on earth will a brother burn down his brother?
They stupidly said that Sheikh Zakzaky (H) surrendered to them. When, where and how? If he truly surrendered how comes they shot him severally? The true child of Hazrat Husain (as) can never in any case surrender to a despotic and tyrant leader!
Mr. Kukasheka said that his life is under threat as some people are abusing him in his Facebook page, some are even waiting for him in his hometown whenever he retired as he said.
The most astonishing part is that they all refuse to swear when they were asked about it! Why? Is it because they are going to tell the commission nothing but bunch of lies?
Chaiiiii.......! My pen is even dysfunctioning due to these lies...."
Sorry Mr. Speaker you have today showed your real selves! You indeed showed your incompetency today! Why are you afraid to say the truth? Why are you afraid to tell the commission what actually happened? Where is the arrogance?
Justice will always prevails and falsehood will always perish!!!
# Secure recovery to Sheikh Zakzaky
# Free Sheikh Zakzaky (H)
Najeeb Umar Maigatari
Najeebumar86@gmail.com
Thursday, April 7th, 2016

RENEWED CALL FOR SACK OF BURATAI FOR THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON ZAKZAKY, ZEENAT, MURDER OF THEIR CHILDREN  APRIL 6, 2016
   
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This is a second call for the immediate sack of Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for the atrocities and grave crimes against humanity committed by the army under his direct command in the days of December 12th to the 14th of 2015.
The description of the demonic acts perpetrated by the army as laid down by attorney for the family, respected “change” senior advocate Femi Falana are chilling, disturbing and sickening.
According to the narration of events by surviving daughter Suhaila and attorney Falana, General Buratai sent his men to the home of Zakzaky without a court order for Zakzaky’s arrest and out of the jurisdiction of the military.
Buratai’s “illiterate” armed hooligans in uniform burned down Zakzaky’s home in attempt to murder Zakzaky, his wife, children, relatives, friends and everyone else in and around the building. We have viewed videos of the aftermath.
Zakzaky’s elder sister was killed in the above process. Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife Zeenat and their sons and Suhaila survived the burning down of their home, hidden in the “basement.”
Zeenat
The soldiers then went there the next day to check and confirm that they had succeeded in murdering Zakzaky and his entire family. It was then that they found the family survived. The soldiers then murdered three of Zakzaky’s sons in cold blood in the view of Sheikh Zakzaky, Suhaila and Zeenat. The soldiers rained bullets on everyone in there hitting Zakzaky six times. His eyes were struck. Zeenat was also shot at least two times with shots to her abdomen and leg. Both were beaten, and further maltreated.
Near death and blinded Zakzaky was dragged on his behind and loaded in a wheelbarrow in typical Daesh style. They were all taken to secret detention and left to suffer and die and treated as the army so desired, denied their constitutional rights and access to their attorney’s, a judge and their medical specialists.
The bodies of the murdered sons, sister and other family members along with hundreds of other victims were carried away like animal carcasses and mass buried.
Zakzaky and wife Zeenat have since been detained extrajudicially and held incommunicado, denied access and information and prevented from seeking justice.
In additional shows of power drunken lunacy and radical fanaticism, Buratai’s possessed men under his and the orders of the administrator of Kaduna, demolished all other properties of the Zakzaky and went further to even exhume graves on his sons killed a year earlier, reportedly by Captain S.O Oku under Jonathan’s command and discarded these bodies in unknown mass graves. Some were burned.
This being the same Buratai that is unwilling and unable to accost a single of openly marauding armed Fulani herders who are brazenly above-the-law, terrorizing and killing innocent people in hundreds, burning down entire communities and even firing shots at serving Senators.
While General Buratai’s observing his paid duty to defeat ragtag, jungle hiding, heroin addicted Boko Haram terrorists is appreciated. It must be recognized that just the way we do our jobs, so also did Buratai do his. Any military leader is expected to be able to defeat terrorists, unless he is corrupt and compromised as were the past generals who were being paid by the survival of Boko Haram. Even the Civilian JTF used to roundly defeat Boko Haram terrorists when unhindered by Shettima and Jonathan.
We do recall that when Azubuike Ihejirika decided to crush Boko Haram in 2013, he did so easily, killing Shekau I and freeing all local governments under them, before he was ordered to stop and allow them recover their losses. To this effect, we believe Buratai’s salary is all he deserves for performing his duty to command the army to do their bidding against the terrorists and finish up the job Jonathan had done in his last months pre-election; and it is time he hands over that duty to other well qualified officers and is retired to face his charges for this act of unsurpassed bloody barbarism.
Zakzaky loaded in wheel barrow
Nigeria’s north has suffered enough of God’s Wrath. We are tired of God punishing us with Boko Haram and making us the most disgraced land on earth. We are tired of the extreme poverty, shops burning, kidnapping, cattle rustling, kidnapping, desert encroachment and all other afflictions that God uses to punish us when we exhibit and allow and support this wickedness and oppression of the highest degrees against minorities in the north, Igbos, Christians, Shia and whoever else.
The Prophet of Islam said: “Fear the prayer of the oppressed, even if he is a disbeliever, for there is no barrier (between it and Allah [the God]).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Please fire Buratai now and let him face his charges and free blinded Zakzaky and his beautiful wife who has lost six of her seven sons to Buhari and Jonathan and is not even able to bury them. This is not the “change” we fought and voted for.
source: www.newsrescue.com

Falana to DSS: release Zakzaky within 24 hours
April 05, 2016
Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has demanded the unconditional release of leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Hajia Zeenat Ibraheem from unlawful detention
In an April 5 letter to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Falana said his clients were denied access to their family and doctors since their arrest.
Falana said last December 12, thousands of armed soldiers allegedly unleashed violent attacks on IMN members in Zaria, Kaduna State on the orders of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai who claimed that the unarmed civilians wanted to assassinate him.
The lawyer said although his clients were not at the scene of the attack, the rampaging troops invaded their residence at Wali Street, Zaria last
December 14.
“The troops set the building ablaze and killed three of our clients’ children in their presence and thereby subjected them to untold mental agony.
“Thereafter, the armed soldiers shot our clients several times. As a result of the brutal attack Sheik Zakzaky lost his left eye while doctors are currently battling to save the right one.
“While in custody, both of them have gone through many surgical operations to extract bullets from their bodies,” Falana wrote.
To compound the physical pain and mental anguish his clients were subject to, Falana said the police and the DSS have held them incommunicado for over three months.
He recalled that during a similar attack in 2014 allegedly by a detachment of the Army, three of Zakzaky’s children were also killed without any lawful justification.
Falana said the report of the fact finding Commission of Enquiry set up by the government was yet to be released, while the military personnel who allegedly killed his clients’ children and other unarmed civilians have not been brought to justice.
Some of the victims who survived the deadly attacks, Falana said, have been charged with culpable homicide and sundry offences by the Kaduna State Government.
“Notwithstanding that such criminal charges are pending at the Kaduna High Court, the Kaduna State Government has set up a judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the same subject matter.
“Even though our clients have not been told that they breached any law, they have been denied access to their lawyers, personal physicians and family members for over three months.
“Our clients were only permitted to meet with us last Friday after several requests made by us had been turned without any legal basis.
“In the light of the foregoing, our clients and members of the IMN have resolved not to participate in the proceedings of the said Judicial Commission of Enquiry in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
“Finally, we hereby demand for the immediate and unconditional release of our clients from illegal detention within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter,” Falana said.
source: www.thenationonlineng.net

PRESS STATEMENT:NIGERIAN SECURITY AGENTS DESPERATE TO ASSOCIATE IMN WITH TERRORIST GROUPS
 April 4, 2016 
PRESS STATEMENT
NIGERIAN SECURITY AGENTS DESPERATE TO ASSOCIATE IMN WITH TERRORIST GROUPS
In the past few days we have received some intelligence reports dished out by the security agents insinuating that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN is planning a coalition with the terrorist organization Boko Haram.
The intelligence report further indicated that due to the said ‘strategic alliance with Boko Haram, attacks will be carried out on military formations and other government buildings. Ordinarily we wouldn’t have even reacted to this latest ‘intelligence report’ had it not been due to the frequency with which the report is being peddled across the intelligence community, since we have in the past reiterated our stance vis-à-vis terrorism and terrorist groups.
However we distance the IMN from any attempt to associate it with violence and other militant activities. Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, our revered leader has said it many times without number that:
“Our weapon is positive reasoning, truth and good conduct. Guns are for the reckless and foolhardy ones. We have been conducting our affairs peacefully, calling people to the truth for the last 36 years. So you cannot come overnight and attribute violence to us that we now resort to killing people. This is impossible. We save lives not kill them.”
This is the teaching of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky for the past almost four decades, and we will not derail from that in the face of many provocations as wished by the Nigerian government and its security agents.
We hereby state categorically that there are no connections or any links whatsoever between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and Boko Haram.
IMN in the first place is not the creation of any foreign security agencies, which is common with all the various terrorist groups globally. It was borne out of the desire of Muslims to live according to the teachings of Islam. IMN has been around at least in Nigeria for almost four decades now, with its various educational programs now commonly known in many Nigerian villages, towns and cities and with all its activities peacefully and transparently conducted.
Hence, there is no basis for any comparison with the Boko Haram that is a terrorist organization and a creation of global imperialism with the intention of tarnishing the image of Islam.
Moreover it is the same so called Boko Haram that bombed our brothers and sisters during an Ashura procession in Potiskum, Yobe state in 2014 and also sent suicide bombers to the Arba’een trek along Kano –Zaria highway killing many innocent people including women and children. It beats any sane imagination that IMN will now turn to the same group in what the intelligence agents term ‘strategic alliance.’
The IMN will like to reiterate its stance once again; we reject any violence or militant attack on anybody or any place in our name. We are not and will never become, act or relate with any terrorist group.
We make bold this statement because the history of security agencies the world over is known for false flag operations, Nigeria inclusive; where a violent attack will be carried out somewhere and innocent people will be accused of the crime. Islam is a religion of peace and is not associated with violence; therefore it is illogical to associate killings and violence to true followers of Islam.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and other bigwigs of the security agencies held a meeting wherein they deliberated on the need to crush the IMN once and for all before the month of Ramadan. According to them all efforts carried out to exterminate the Movement so far will come to naught if the annual Quds day rally is staged anywhere in Nigeria again.
In preparation for the grand onslaught on the IMN some Muslim Clerics have been commissioned to add momentum to their hate campaigns against Shia in all their preaching sessions. This treacherous act has already started in earnest in various mosques across the country. One of such Sheikhs on the payroll of the government was even heard saying to those around him, “leave them (Shiites) they will be finished off in the next two weeks.”
We will like to inform the public that, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is at the receiving end of the evil machinations of the government. By now those who are opposed to any peaceful resolution of Zaria massacre by the military are seen clearly in their true colors.
Notwithstanding we will keep on pressing for our demands that, punishment be meted out on the military that unjustly and without due process killed innocent Nigerians who are followers of Sheikh Zakzaky on 12-14 December, 2015 in Zaria. We still demands that our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky be released unconditionally, since after over four months the authorities have failed to accuse him of committing any crime.
SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT
MEDIA FORUM OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA
00805 078 6093
04/04/16
Sources: www.premiumtimesng.com
elbinawi.

PRESS STATEMENT:NIGERIAN SECURITY AGENTS DESPERATE TO ASSOCIATE IMN WITH TERRORIST GROUPS
 April 4, 2016  Uncategorized
PRESS STATEMENT
NIGERIAN SECURITY AGENTS DESPERATE TO ASSOCIATE IMN WITH TERRORIST GROUPS
In the past few days we have received some intelligence reports dished out by the security agents insinuating that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN is planning a coalition with the terrorist organization Boko Haram.
The intelligence report further indicated that due to the said ‘strategic alliance with Boko Haram, attacks will be carried out on military formations and other government buildings. Ordinarily we wouldn’t have even reacted to this latest ‘intelligence report’ had it not been due to the frequency with which the report is being peddled across the intelligence community, since we have in the past reiterated our stance vis-à-vis terrorism and terrorist groups.
However we distance the IMN from any attempt to associate it with violence and other militant activities. Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, our revered leader has said it many times without number that:
“Our weapon is positive reasoning, truth and good conduct. Guns are for the reckless and foolhardy ones. We have been conducting our affairs peacefully, calling people to the truth for the last 36 years. So you cannot come overnight and attribute violence to us that we now resort to killing people. This is impossible. We save lives not kill them.”
This is the teaching of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky for the past almost four decades, and we will not derail from that in the face of many provocations as wished by the Nigerian government and its security agents.
We hereby state categorically that there are no connections or any links whatsoever between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and Boko Haram.
IMN in the first place is not the creation of any foreign security agencies, which is common with all the various terrorist groups globally. It was borne out of the desire of Muslims to live according to the teachings of Islam. IMN has been around at least in Nigeria for almost four decades now, with its various educational programs now commonly known in many Nigerian villages, towns and cities and with all its activities peacefully and transparently conducted.
Hence, there is no basis for any comparison with the Boko Haram that is a terrorist organization and a creation of global imperialism with the intention of tarnishing the image of Islam.
Moreover it is the same so called Boko Haram that bombed our brothers and sisters during an Ashura procession in Potiskum, Yobe state in 2014 and also sent suicide bombers to the Arba’een trek along Kano –Zaria highway killing many innocent people including women and children. It beats any sane imagination that IMN will now turn to the same group in what the intelligence agents term ‘strategic alliance.’
The IMN will like to reiterate its stance once again; we reject any violence or militant attack on anybody or any place in our name. We are not and will never become, act or relate with any terrorist group.
We make bold this statement because the history of security agencies the world over is known for false flag operations, Nigeria inclusive; where a violent attack will be carried out somewhere and innocent people will be accused of the crime. Islam is a religion of peace and is not associated with violence; therefore it is illogical to associate killings and violence to true followers of Islam.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and other bigwigs of the security agencies held a meeting wherein they deliberated on the need to crush the IMN once and for all before the month of Ramadan. According to them all efforts carried out to exterminate the Movement so far will come to naught if the annual Quds day rally is staged anywhere in Nigeria again.
In preparation for the grand onslaught on the IMN some Muslim Clerics have been commissioned to add momentum to their hate campaigns against Shia in all their preaching sessions. This treacherous act has already started in earnest in various mosques across the country. One of such Sheikhs on the payroll of the government was even heard saying to those around him, “leave them (Shiites) they will be finished off in the next two weeks.”
We will like to inform the public that, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is at the receiving end of the evil machinations of the government. By now those who are opposed to any peaceful resolution of Zaria massacre by the military are seen clearly in their true colors.
Notwithstanding we will keep on pressing for our demands that, punishment be meted out on the military that unjustly and without due process killed innocent Nigerians who are followers of Sheikh Zakzaky on 12-14 December, 2015 in Zaria. We still demands that our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky be released unconditionally, since after over four months the authorities have failed to accuse him of committing any crime.
SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT
MEDIA FORUM OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA
00805 078 6093
04/04/16
source: elbinawi.

An open letter to the executive governor of Katsina State Alh. Aminu Bello Masari
Dear Sir,
With due respect sir, I humbly write to this short letter as a reminder to you; though I know you are aware, but in the Holy Qur'an the Almighty stated that "Admonish, for it benefits the faithfuls" so in view of this I choose to openly write to you and do hope that the letter will get to you.
Sir, I will like to draw your attention on some unscruplous people and kangaroo enemies around you that are trying to fordo your life forever, be it a religious scholar, politician, a soldier or someone from the royal house. Remember that they will be of no value to you when you stand before Allah, the most High; the day you will be raised with the result of your actions.
Sir, you are now fully grown, your ages are many, many people regard your ageing. And you also know that you hardly live morethan the years you lived before now; if this is obvious, I see no reason why you will allow others to fool you by taking a contract of shedding the blood of innocent and bonafide citizens of Nigeria, whom you sworn by the Holy Qur'an to protect their rights, lives and properties!
Sir, none of your true lovers will hope to witness you being raised bearing the blood of even an animal in the day of judgement. The one who truly loves you and loves you the mercy of Allah, by Allah, will never advice you on shedding the blood of innocent and bonafide citizens of your state simply because some people don't like them! Remember that Allah created them because He likes them, why will someone then who claim to love you advice you on shedding the blood of those created by He who created you? Remember that we must one day all assemble before Him, and we will be questioned based on our respective deeds.
Sir, you must one day become a history as stated in the glorious Qur'an that "Every soul is bound to taste death" and world will never forget you and your actions. Avoid the word "bloodshed" from the words of your history!
Sir, remember that you visited Malam Ya'qoub Yahaya for about three times in the past days, and I am sure you benefitted from his admonishment, so, remember that Allah knows best what you discussed. Do not allow yourself to be a tool for shedding his blood, that of his families, that of the people he is representing and destroying their places simply because of politics and materialism.
Sir, do not allow your life to be ruined by those kangaroo enemies around you as I stated earlier. By Allah, they only aim what is in your hand; and the day you either loose it or is finished, they will all leave you, I believe you know it! Sir, whoever advice you that is by killing some people your government will gain honour is obviously lying to you, as honour is never attained by killing. If to say is by killings, Pharaoh (Fir'auna) will be the most honoured man in history. But today where is he? Did people praise him or curse him whenever he is remembered? Sir, honour is gained by truth, honesty, confidence, modesty, determination and faithfulness to ones duty.
Sir, avoid believing malevolent reports been transmitted to you by anyone in order to ruin your government. So that you can meet Allah successfully.
Finally I asked Allah, the Blessed and most Exalted; to protect you from the evil of those religious scholars who are trying to ruin your life, from those SSS who are always transmitting false and malevolent reports. May Allah protect you from being raised in the day of Judgement with an atom's weight of someone's right. May He guide us all!
Najeeb Umar Maigatari
Najeebumar86@gmail.com
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

Shehu Sani warns of crisis if Kaduna religious bill
Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, commented on the controversial religious bill, warned that any attempt to pass it into law could set the state on fire. He expressed his concerns in an interview with TheGuardianNG on Friday, April 1.
“The Bill, in the first place, attempts to impose state religion on the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria living in Kaduna by tagging Christianity and Islam as the major religions recognised by the state.”
“The Bill imposes membership of Jamatu Nasir Islam and Christian Association of Nigeria as simply the associations and non-governmental organisations recognised by the state government. The very fact that those organisations are given a role to play, in terms of screening and pruning religious leaders, is very wrong,” he said.
The senator argued that the bill violated the fundamental (constitutional) rights of Nigerians to preach, to speak and to assemble. The right to issue licence and permit seem unconstitutional to the civil rights activist.
“The State Assembly and El-Rufai have no right to issue licences and permits to religious leaders to preach, because what that portends is simply to issue permit to pro-establishment and pro-government preachers, who will only sing praises of the political establishment.”

“I think he (Governor El-Rufai) is very ignorant of the causes of religious riots in Kaduna, because he has been out of Kaduna for a long time. He was not here when all the religious crises happened in Kaduna. That is why he is thinking of such a law.
“If such laws were created by late Ibrahim Yakowa while in office, El-Rufai would have been one of those to have criticised Yakowa.
“So, as far as I am concerned, there are laws to take care of people who use religious platforms to incite others without necessarily creating a law that violate rights to freedom of religion.
“Any attempt to clamp down or regulates preaching as it is, is also likened to regulating free speech,” Senator Sani concluded.
Source: www.naij.com