Nigeria: Army arrests Muslim sect leader, killed 500 members

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has been arrested by soldiers after long hours’ siege on his residence in Zaria.

The sect claimed that over 500 of its members were killed by soldiers during the siege.

One of his followers confirmed his arrest to our correspondent that “I saw armoured tanks demolishing the Hussainiyya shrine and the residence of Sheikh El-Zakzaky.”

The Nigerian Army and members of the sect have accused each other of instigating attacks that led to the death of members of the movement on Saturday and Sunday morning.

While the army accuse the sect members of attempting to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, the Islamic Movement said soldiers opened fire on defenceless innocent people who were on a peaceful procession.

It was gathered from residence that heavily armed soldiers sustained a crackdown on the members of the movement throughout Saturday night till the early hours of Sunday.

Heavy shootings were heard in Gullesu and Sokoto road, where the spiritual centre of the sect is located.

They however called on the international community and human rights groups to probe the killings.

The Islamic movement has over a million members, mostly in Kaduna and Kano states.