RNA - The Islamic Movement in Nigeria claims it has uncovered a grand plot to arrest and assassinate its leader sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.
“The uncovered plot was in stages, with the first being to arrest the Sheik as he arrives Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos or assassinate him if the arrest failed”, said the spokesperson of the movement, Ibrahim Usman, in a press statement made available on journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna.
“Information reaching us revealed that Sheik Zakzaky will be arrested and be charged for impersonation, that he represented Nigeria at an international conference in Iran, while he was not a government official," he added.
Usman described the second stage of the plan as implicating Zakzaky for allegedly importing arms into the country. "To this end, a green Italian or French airline laden with arms with number 179 will be stationed at the Lagos airport to make false allegation that the Sheik alighted in the same aircraft that brought the arms," he said.
According to the spokesperson, if the above plan failed the next step was "to cause chaos in the airport, which amidst the pandemonium will allow for the shooting of Sheik Zakzaky as he lands in the airport."
The final stage was reportedly to lay ambush on Sheikh Zakzaky's convoy and assassinate him as he heads home either from Lagos to Zaria, Abuja to Zaria or Kano to Zaria.
The leader of the Nigerian Shiite group is currently on a visit to Iraq, having been in Iran on a special visit where he was honored by a foundation as a father of “three martyrs” during the 2014 Quds massacre by the Nigerian military in Zaria, Nigeria.
Meanwhile a disciple of the Sheik in Kano, Muhammad Turi, has cautioned the government of the dire consequences of the planned action.
Reacting to the plan in a press release, Mr. Turi said the plot was a conspiracy masterminded by the so-called superpower countries, whose interests the Nigerian government is desperately working to satisfy.
“None but them will benefit from the action,” Mr. Turi said. “It is indeed an ill wind that will blow nobody any good.”
He pointed out that the negative propaganda and assassination attempts on Mr. Zakzaky will hold no water, as the cleric has been widely acclaimed as a genuine embodiment of peaceful co-existence, not only among Muslims but also among people from different religious background.
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