Sheikh Zakzaky interviews with Press TV hours before being arrested

Rasa - Press TV has interviewed Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, the top Nigerian Shia cleric whose private residence was under siege and attack by the Nigerian government troops hours before getting arrested.

News ID: 3679

Date: 14 December 2015 - 18:42

RNA - The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Can you please tell us in your own words exactly what took place in this attack?

Al-Zakzaky: Well as you can see right now we are under attack and they are using heavy guns, RPG, which they used to destroy the Hussainiyyah.  They are now shooting towards my house right now. They have cordoned the house since around 10:30 pm last night. Up till now they are still shooting.

Press TV: And what is your justification for this attack on your residence?

Al-Zakzaky: Well there is no justification. They just framed a kind of lie. They said that the convoy of the army was passing through the Hussainiyyah and it was attacked. So they destroyed the Hussainiyyah. They killed so many people there. They killed and carried the bodies along with them about 30 people and right now inside the Hussainiyyah there are 15 injured, right now 7 have already passed away. They came to my house and then there was shooting constantly. As up to now they have killed 12 people and they have injured 41 and they are still shooting. You can hear the sound of shots.

Press TV: And do you know what their ultimate objective is? How long is this going to go on and why is it stretching this long as it stands?

Al-Zakzaky: Well I do not know. We thought that they have already bombarded but I think they are bent on [fighting] machine. Only Allah can protect us.

Nigerian forces have reportedly arrested the top Shia cleric, Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, after carrying out a deadly raid on his private residence in the country’s northern region.

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