The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shiites, said it has uncovered a grand plot to arrest and kill its leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
The spokesperson of the movement, Ibrahim Usman, disclosed this in a press statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna.
“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”, Mr. Usman said. “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.
“The second stage of the plan was to implicate Sheik 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.
“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 of the plan was to lay ambush on Sheik Zakzaky’s convoy and kill him as he heads home either from Lagos to Zaria, Abuja to Zaria or Kano to Zaria”.
Mr. Zakzaky is currently on a visit to Iraq, having been in Iran on a special visit where he was honoured by a foundation as a father of “three martyrs” during the 2014 Quds massacre by the Nigerian military in Zaria, Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Shiite leader returned to his Gyellesu home, in Zaria, Kaduna State yesterday without any incidence.
He was received by some of his followers upon his return to the country.
