The Islamic Movement of Nigeria on Wednesday accused the Nigerian Army of refusing to release the corpses of its members shot dead by soldiers guarding the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, almost two weeks ago.
The movement said in a statement on its website that the military instead buried its members in mass graves and burnt some of the corpses.
It also alleged that the military had kept its members with gunshot wounds in detention while the whereabouts of many others were yet unknown.
The statement by Mallam Abdulhamid Bello said it would observe this year’s celebration of Prophet Mohammed’s birthday mourning its slain members.
Full text of the statement:
In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful
May the peace and blessings of Allah Ta’ala continue to shower on His noble Messenger – Muhammad bn Abdullah (SAWA), the pure household (A.S.), and all sincere companions (R.A.).
Today we are out together with the rest of the Muslim Ummah to celebrate the annual birthday anniversary of the noble Prophet of Islam (SAWA), an event that is known as Maulud Procession. It has been our practice to extend the celebratory message of Maulud Nabiy, but this year’s message is different. We are out to mourn the killings, maimings and wanton destruction of thousands of lives and properties at Baqiyyatullah Husainiyya, Darur Rahma and residence of our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H). We want the whole world to know what the hand of tyranny has meted on the followers of Messenger of mercy (SAWA) on the eve month of Maulud Nabiy. They maimed, detained and massacred the sons and daughters of Islam under baseless pretences using oppressive and suppressive force never known in Nigeria. To this day, hundreds of our brothers are either under detention with some suffering from untreated gun wounds, while many their whereabouts are not known.
All people with humane consciences need to know that the Nigerian Army under President Buhari refused to give us the corpses of our massacred brothers and sisters, but rather bury them in mass graves and burning some of the corpses to hide their ugly handiwork.
This tragedy is happening amidst the mourning of mischievous ‘suicide’ bomb blast that killed scores of members of the Movement, that took place during the recent Arbaeen symbolic trek of Imam Husain (A.S.) from Kano to Husainiyya, Zaria. In view of the stated realities, Mourning must surpass celebration.
As we celebrate Maulud albeit in a mourning mood, here it is pertinent to re-echo the resounding message of our mentor and leader – Sheikh Zakzaky (H), in which he used to say: “It is with Maulud that change will be realised in this ummah.” The impetus for the impending change lies in the statement: “The love of the Messenger of Allah is the secret for Unity.” And this also informed the foresighted initiative of annual Unity Week as instituted by the Sheikh (H).
All conscious minded people know that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has existed in this part of the globe for over 37 years. It is peaceful, intellectual, focus and dynamic. Therefore no amount of propaganda by agents of zionists and western hegemonic powers will make it lose its consistent direction and principle in being non-violent and harmless. We believe in the prophetic path, the path of wisdom and intellect rather than the path of ignorance and brute force.
The blatant lies and propaganda shoved to gullible minds of the unwary public by the pseudo military-civilian junta has started to expose the shameless faces of those behind the evil zionists’ script unleashed against the Islamic Movement. By Allah, we have survived all previous satanic plots and insha Allah this too will not be an exception! All prowess and might belongs to Allah and on Him we depend and He enough as a Helper.
“..And they who act oppressively shall know to what final place they shall turn back.”
(Suratul Shu’ara verse 227)
Peace be upon those who follow guidance.”
Posted by Janice Johnson (Source: Daily Post)
