El-Zakzaky not dead, stop the rumour —Shiites

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has raised the alarm over an alleged false information that their spiritual leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky is dead, saying the malicious information was meant to break its will and cause confusion, thereby allowing miscreants to seize the opportunity to turn their  peaceful protests into violence.

A statement signed by their spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, on Friday, which was obtained by Saturday Tribune in Kaduna stated that, “Credible reports have confirmed that hoodlums have been commissioned by the authorities to foment trouble by burning tyres and properties in the course of our peaceful processions.

“Part of their evil plot involved spreading false news of the alleged death of our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky due to illness on a fake Facebook page.

“They had hoped to achieve their mischievous aims by using that to wreck havoc and attribute same to a supposed reaction of members of the Islamic Movement.”

According to the statement, “When all their evil machinations failed woefully, however, the security agents went wild  and opened fire on our peaceful protesters demanding the immediate release of Sheikh Zakzaky to enable him attend to his deteriorating health while in the illegal detention of the Nigerian authorities.

“As a consequence of this brutality by the Police, two people were killed and scores were wounded.

“The police further arrested hundreds. Similarly yesterday, policemen had used live ammunition to stop the procession, injuring quite a number, including Sheikh Qasim Umar Sokoto.

“A journalist was bartered with clubs and sticks until his arm was broken by the police. Today the police were even more brutal in the attack on the peaceful protesters.

“This police fury followed their inability to cash on the effects of such fake news and reports they have circulated on social media to incite violence to discredit the Islamic Movement.