IMN condemns demolition of property, Zakzaky’s home by Kaduna government

The Shiite sect of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria has condemned the ongoing demolition of its property in Zaria, Kaduna State.
It said already, its spiritual headquarters, the Husainiyya Baqiyyatullah, had been demolished and burnt by the Kaduna State agency, KASUPDA, under the watch of operatives of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services.
The group, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, said the demolition was based on the order of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
In a statement on Thursday, the group said: “It has come to our notice that the Kaduna state Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has ordered KASUPDA to demolish all the properties belonging to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
“Yesterday, KASUPDA under the protection of Nigerian Army and the SSS razed to ground what remained of our Husainiyya Islamic centre.
“We are particularly irked by the demolition of our newly bought property adjacent the Husainiyya Baqiyyatullah, a former NTC compound, which they did yesterday. That compound has been in existence since the colonial times.”
The group equally alleged that the home of Zakzaky, where his mother was buried, had equally been demolished.
It added in the statement: “Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai didn’t stopped at that, his government’s KASUPDA demolished our Fudiyya Islamic centre, where we were holding our Islamic programmes before relocating to Husainiyya about five years ago. That building was also duly occupied by us and was built by the owner over thirty years ago. It was in the midst of other people’s houses.
“KASUPDA also demolished the family house of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky wherein the remains of his mother who died a year ago lies. The house is located in Jushi Qtrs of Tudun wada Zaria.
“We condemn this act of brutality against the Islamic movement. This atrocity is a pointer to the fact that, while the government is busy telling the public that they want peace to prevail after the massacre, but at the same time it is out to provoke us more.
“We believe if the government is truly searching for avenues for peaceful resolution to this crisis, the government should be seen by all to be following due process in whatever breach they are accusing the Movement.
“We are calling on the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El Rufai, to desist from exploiting our patience and endurance and stop further destruction of our properties.”