By Ibrahim Usman
Believe it
or not, the Quds Day Massacre in Zaria and the Arba’een Symbolic Trek to Zaria
were two major events that shook Nigeria the entire world in 2014. They were
also events that will further shape events in 2015.
Zaria
Quds Day Massacre/ Boko Haram Fully Unmasked:
July 25,
2014 (Ramadan 28, 1435 AH). That day, the faceless Boko Haram terror cell was
unmasked when it attacked the Quds Day procession called by the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub
Zakzaky. On that very day, the state-sponsored Boko Haram in broad daylight
came in their full military uniform, and heavily armed in their vehicles and
killed 34 people in cold blood. The obvious fact that they engaged a determined
group, there was not room for escape or maneuver. They were fully identified
and unmasked.
The July
25 International Quds Day procession in Zaria was the 23rd in the series
commemorated by the Movement in the last 35 years. As it had been the case in
previous years, it was the people’s glorious presence to express solidarity
with the Palestinian cause. This year’s event was so pressing with the
merciless siege and unhindered serial bombardment on Gaza by the illegal state
of Israel. It was peaceful as it had always been in the about 22 major cities
the day was observed, except in Zaria where a section of the Nigerian Military
had other plans.
When the
procession was terminated and a closing prayer was said, the Nigerian military,
some in full military gear, others in plain clothes and military vehicles, laid
ambush at the tail of the procession and opened fire indiscriminately on the
people. The soldiers laid ambush on top of buildings and in sugarcane farms and
at different road intercessions.
Official Torture And Murder:
At the end
of the offensive, 34 people were killed, of which 3 were sons (The Zaria Trio)
of Sheikh Zakzaky. They were identified as biological sons of Sheikh Zakzaky,
taken alive, brutally tortured and shot dead by the official Shekau of Zaria,
Colonel S. O. Oku, at the Basawa Barrack in Zaria. Not satisfied with brutality
meted on that day, the soldiers returned the next day and opened fire at Hussainiyyah
Baqiyyatullah, and killed two more people with several others injured. Nineteen
(19) out of those killed were taken alive and tortured to death at the barrack.
The torture included electrocution, severe beaten and stabbing with bayonet of
AK-47. A total of 34 people were killed, while about 120 sustained several
forms of injuries.
The Unprecedented Restraint:
What
happened was neither accidental nor coincidental, but a calculated attempt to
go for the Movement’s jugular and hit where it hurts. There were signs that the
security forces were plotting something sinister. The Leader of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria, Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky had on various occasions been
targeted for attack either as he went for a public or private function outside
his home. These attempts were in most cases foiled due to exposition of these
plots by the Sheikh. Some of these expositions were reported in the Nigerian
media.
The onslaught was meant to instigate the
Islamic Movement to take akingup arms to further justify an official clampdown.
Instead, Sheikh Zakzaky at the helm of affairs demonstrated unprecedented
restraint, by civilized actions. The Boko Haram unit of the Nigerian Military
was therefore shamed and disappointed.
The Global Condemnation:
One cannot remember a single event in 2014 that
has received such magnitude of global condemnation and concern like the Zaria
Quds Day massacre. Shortly after the carnage, world nations condemned Nigeria
government and called for justice. Vigils were carried out in Nigerian high
commissions abroad, notably London. Demonstrations were stage worldwide,
Nigerian ambassadors abroad were summoned.
There were also condolence from across the
world, which cut across tribal and religious boundaries. Contrary to the
Nigerian government expectation, the event presented the Islamic Movement as a
popular mass movement that has strong affiliation with the society.
Group Chairman, Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam
Nda Isaiah graphically captures the exemplary restraint of Sheikh Zakzaky this:
“We commend your leadership attribute and the dignity you exemplified. We
wonder how many leaders could contain this and remain calm. We are very proud
of this attribute. If leaders were like you, the world would be a better place
to live. Without this kind of restraint, we would not have been alive talking
now”.
The False Flags:
In the face of growing global concern and
condemnation, there was the need for the central axis of the Boko Haram to
justify its action. As a result, the military was put on red alert, through
leaked secret memos.
One of such was a secret memo was raised by one
Brig Gen BA Fiboinumama from the Army depot in Zaria and sent to Defense
Headquarters in Abuja.
The second security alert covertly sent to all
security formations nationwide. In it was an allegation that members of the
Islamic Movement were about to attack security formations nationwide as a
revenge. One such false flag emanated from Zamfara state unit of the State
Security Services (SSS).
To set the stage for further violence and
justify their action, some newspapers were commissioned to write fake reports
and statements and attributed it to Sheikh Zakzaky. The National Daily of
Sunday, 03 August 2014, was one of such newspapers which carried an article
titled “My sons blood cry for vengeance — El-Zakzaky”.
The series of events in the July 25 Quds Day
Massacre in Zaria, and subsequently victory of conscience over gun,
demonstrated by the Islamic Movement made the event one momentous event in
2014.
The Arba’een Symbolic Trek:
From December 6-13, 2014, approximately 6
million people trekked from 7 axis across Nigeria to Zaria, for the 40th day
(Arba’een) after the brutal murder of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of the
Holy Prophet (SAWA).
It was under-reported by the Nigerian media for
three reasons:
1. A march of such magnitude is a show of
strength, influence and a clear demonstration of power and devotion in faith.
It is very dangerous and risky on the part of the government to allow for wider
coverage of the event, especially from the same group it is fighting.
2. The press is more concerned with
negative and sensationalized incidences when it comes to the Islamic Movement
in Nigeria.
3. There was envy from some groups, that
could not muster and control such such a large population for whatever reason.
Reason with this: If a few hundred
anti-privatization protestors take to the streets they will make headlines.
Sufficient airtime and pages is also awarded to a pro-democracy march. But a
gathering of about 6 million in obvious defiance of terror attacks and
injustice failed even to make it into the TV news bar! Form all indication, as
it is said of the event in Karbala, Iraq, “An unofficial media embargo is
imposed on the gargantuan event despite the story having all the critical
elements of an eye-catching feature; the staggering numbers, the political
significance, the revolutionary message, the tense backdrop, as well as
originality. But when such a story does make it through the editorial axe of
major news outlets, it creates shockwaves and touches the most random people”.
It was a sea of men, women and children, but
most visibly black-veiled women, fill the eye from one end of the horizon to
the other. They walked over hundred kilometers and spent a maximum of 6 to
minimum of 2 day on the road, before they finally melted in Zaria for the grand
occasion. As in Karbala that hosted about 30 million people this year, the
Nigerian pilgrims carried “little besides their burning love for "The
Master" Hussein. Flags and banners remind them, and the world, of the
purpose of their journey”.
Despite
the attempt to suppress the event, it was nevertheless mentioned, because the
envy was so excruciating. Some were given pages in the media to condemn the
trek, while others used public gathering to pour venoms on the trekkers. Yet
the Arba’een symbolic trek in Nigeria remained a significant event to be
reckoned with in 2014.
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