Ten years after the tragic clash between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in Zaria, Kaduna State, IMN leader Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky has spoken out, saying former President Muhammadu Buhari will answer for his actions on Judgment Day.
The incident, which started as a minor confrontation when IMN members blocked the convoy of then Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, escalated into a deadly crisis, leading to the proscription of IMN.
According to Human Rights Watch, the military’s response resulted in the deaths and secret burial of around 300 IMN members, while a state-backed inquiry reported over 1,000 civilian casualties, mostly IMN members.
El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat were detained until 2021, when a Kaduna High Court acquitted them of all charges.
At a press conference marking the decade-long anniversary, El-Zakzaky criticized the Buhari administration and subsequent governments for not releasing the judicial commission’s report or acknowledging the victims.
“Nothing has been done. They don’t even acknowledge that anything happened,” he said.
When asked about forgiving Buhari, he replied, “As for Buhari, it’s simple. He has passed away. We will meet on the Day of Judgement.”
El-Zakzaky urged the current government to address the injustice without being prompted, saying, “They know a wrong was done.”
He emphasized that the massacre didn’t silence IMN but instead amplified its global cause, citing worldwide protests after his arrest. He’s open to dialogue but stressed, “Actions are another thing.”
The IMN has also pursued international legal action through the Islamic Human Rights Commission. El-Zakzaky vowed the movement will continue, saying, “If they don’t want to see us, they will still see us”.
