The Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) has again cried out on an alleged plan by the current administration to implicate it in a prisonbreak.
In a statement dated December 15, 2022 by Halima Aliyu of the Academic Forum of the movement, she indicated that there was no prison break plan where the movement would be blamed for it.
The statement reads in part: “From all indications, Buhari wants to continue his attack on Sheikh Zakzaky (H) to enable him to get some scorecards from the failed Zaria massacre project.
“The planned prison break and unlawful attack on the Islamic movement are contained in a document authored by David Attah and sent to the Minister of Interior, Inspector General of Police; Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service Abuja, and the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Abuja.
“David Attah is a Director in the Special Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and in his letter, referenced W.I/S.19/107 and dated 8th December 2022 he stated that “I am to draw your attention to the report which revealed the plan by the Islamic movement to attack some correctional centers and facilities in Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina states and the FCT”.
David Attah added, “It is worthy to note that the Islamic movement is accusing the Federal Government of Nigeria of conniving with the United States of America (USA) to eliminate their leader, his eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H).
“Finally, David Attah ended his letter directing the Minister of Interior, IGP, CG of Nigeria Correctional Service, and CG Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to take necessary action deemed appropriate.”
Describing the allegation as laughable, the movement added; “The allegations are worthy of being responded to, but because we know how bad the Buhari regime is.
“The public will recall that the Buhari regime disguised with blocking of the road to the former Chief of Army Staff TY Buratai, and executed the 2015 Zaria massacre that led to the killing of more than 1,000 people in Zaria, Kaduna state.
“Because of that, we decided to respond to this document written by David Attah.
“We would like to inform the public that the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) has no plan to attack correctional centers and facilities.
“We categorically reject these baseless allegations made by David Attah and also consider all the communications between David Attah and the security agents as a plot (by the Buhari regime) for launching another attack on his eminence, Sheikh Zakzaky (H), as they did in December 2015 when they hide under blockage of road for Burutai and executed Zaria massacre.
“Let us remind the Buhari regime that the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) report found that the “Cordon and Search Operation” conducted by the Nigerian Army that culminated in the pogrom was “in contravention of the provision of Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act No 24 of 1994”.
“Furthermore, the Amnesty International report titled “Unearthing the Truth: Unlawful Killings and Mass Cover-Up in Zaria”, uncovered serious and heinous crimes against humanity by the Army.
“It is pertinent to state that the regime that executed the Zaria massacre has no moral standing to accuse someone of terror and in normal circumstances, the government and all perpetrators of the Zaria massacre are supposed to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
“As a result of the Kuje prisonbreak, numerous inmates ran out of the prison to save their lives, and after the prisonbreak, more than 40 Free Zakzaky protesters that were being unlawfully detained in the prison, voluntarily returned to the Kuje prison to continue with their trial to enable them to prove their innocence.
“We would like to advise the regime to sit and reflect on the irredeemable humiliations and defeats they received while attacking us from the 2015 Zaria massacre to date and concentrate on managing socio-economic problems devastating the people of this country.
“Followers of Sheikh Zakzaky in cells and prison facilities have been receiving commendations and bravery messages from inmates and the public due to their good human relations. David Attah should note that a simple sample opinion of people can prove to him that the document he authored is nothing but lies.
“We are calling the public to hold the Buhari regime responsible for the July 2022 Kuje prisonbreak. We also want to put it on record that the plan to attack correctional centers and facilities in Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Katsina states and the FCT is a plot by the National Security Advisor to Buhari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Thus, whatever happens to the aforementioned correctional centers, the public should squarely hold Mohammed Babagana Monguno, Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha, and David Attah responsible for that.
“On our side, from the 2015 Zaria massacre to date, whatever happens to our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H), we are squarely holding Buhari responsible.
“Finally, we are determined to continue protesting against the travel ban placed on our leader by the Buhari regime and to demand the release of the travel documents of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem.”
