Marking the tenth anniversary of the deadly clash between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), the leader of the group, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has stated that former President Muhammadu Buhari will be held accountable on the Day of Judgement for the massacre in Zaria in 2015.
The clash, which occurred in December 2015, began when IMN members allegedly blocked the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, Kaduna State, leading to a confrontation from the military and the proscription of the IMN.
Speaking at a press conference, El-Zakzaky, who was arrested and detained with his wife, Zeenat, until 2021, criticized the silence of both the Buhari administration and the current government regarding the case.
A state-backed judicial commission of inquiry reported that over 300 civilians specifically 347 IMN members and one soldier, according to the official report were killed and secretly buried in mass graves. Human Rights Watch also documented the mass killings report.
The judicial commission of inquiry was set up and submitted its report on September 7, 2016, recommending the prosecution of soldiers involved in the killings due to the use of excessive force.
El-Zakzaky lamented that despite the report, both the Buhari and subsequent administrations have maintained total silence, failing to release the report or offer any form of acknowledgement or compensation to the affected families.
As for Buhari, it’s simple. He has passed away. We will meet on the Day of Judgement. I remember when I was shot and in blood, one of his ministers phoned me. I said, tell him my greetings. We will meet on the Day of Judgement. The equation of Buhari is over…If they don’t want to see us, they will still see us. If they don’t want to hear us, they will still hear us
The IMN leader insisted that the authorities should address the injustice without being prompted, as they are fully aware of the wrong done.
Zakzaky maintained that the attempt to destroy an ideology with a gun failed, stressing that his arrest only amplified the movement’s cause globally.
Meanwhile, the IMN has already taken legal action at the international level through the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), stating that the court will eventually look at all the evidence.
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