Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has blamed both Nigerian authorities and foreign powers for the country’s deepening insecurity, alleging deliberate complicity in the rise of banditry and terrorism.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the 2015 Zaria massacre anniversary, El-Zakzaky questioned how rural bandits and cattle raiders have obtained high-grade weapons, armoured vehicles and fuel tankers.
“How do cattle raiders suddenly have guns? How do bandits get armoured vehicles in the bushes?” he asked. “Everybody knows the authorities are behind this insecurity. If they want to stop it today, they can stop it.”
In a separate viral video, the IMN leader accused the United States of creating and funding extremist groups in West Africa.
“US created Boko Haram and ISWAP. They created ISIS. They said openly they would use terrorism to conquer Africa,” he claimed, insisting foreign interests are exploiting Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions.
El-Zakzaky said politicians in power engineered the crisis and have allowed it to worsen. “The insecurity problem in Nigeria was created by politicians in power. If they want to stop it, they would,” he said.
He also revisited the December 2015 Zaria massacre in which hundreds of IMN members were killed during a confrontation with the Nigerian Army. A state judicial commission put civilian deaths above 1,000, a figure contested by the military.
El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested during the crackdown and detained until a Kaduna State High Court discharged and acquitted them in 2021.
The cleric accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of ignoring the commission’s findings. “Nothing has been done. They do not even acknowledge anything happened,” he said, adding that he was shot and left for dead.
“Tell General Buhari I am greeting him. We will meet on the Day of Judgement,” he remarked.
He criticised the current administration for also failing to address the massacre despite earlier private assurances. “They ought to address it,” he said.
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