Hawzah News Agency (Abuja, Nigeria) - Former Minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has strongly condemned the atrocities of Nigerian Army on members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) which resulted to the death of over 1000 innocent Shia Muslims including the 3 sons of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky in Zaria between 12-14, December 2015. Mr. Fani Kayode who was addressing delegates of the Islamic Movement when they paid a Christmas visit at his residence, in Abuja, said he commiserated with Nigerian Shia Muslims over the Zaria massacre, noting that it is on record that the Shi'a in Nigeria has never attacked anybody anywhere.
He therefore noted that terrorizing them defies all logic and reasoning, even as he commended their restrain and peaceful posture in the wake of all provocations. Mr. Kayode said he was also aware of the reports of crises in Southern Kaduna where herdsmen were killing Christians just as the killings of Shi'a Muslims by Salafist Government of El-Rufa’i.
He describes El-Rufa'i's glaring role in both crises as a disgrace to Islam, Hausa/Fulani, Africa and humanity. He also condemned the Salafist government of Saudi Arabia with the complacent role of the United States over the atrocities in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria "of trying to impose its will on People against their interest.” "I am praying for Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia for helping Bashar Assad to survive” he added.
In his response on behalf of the delegates under the auspices of the Resource Forum of the IMN, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Gamawa expressed highest appreciation on Mr. Fani-Kayode's sympathy and concern over the injustice meted against innocent IMN community.
He described the claim of road blockage to Chief of Army Staff as only a pretext because few hours to the arrival of the COAS' convoy, Hundreds of men and officers of Nigerian Army were already stationed at the Hussainiyya Centre and shot dead dozens of people, elucidating that IMN have nothing to benefit if they attack Gen. Burutai. "Even those who brutalised us in the past were never attacked despite that we always see them moving about their normal business". He further explained that Sheikh Usman Danfodiyo has suffered high form of injustice in the hands of Hausa traditional rulers similar to what Sheikh Zakzaky and his disciples are suffering now.
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