Despites Ban Of Activities In Some States, Shi’ites Insist On Arbaeen Trek Tuesday

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) — The Islamic Movement in Nigeria also known as Shiite on Monday insisted that in spite of the incident that happened in Kano and the banned on their activities, it would go ahead to mark the annual Arbaeen trek in fulfillment of its religious activities across the country on Tuesday.

Coordinator of the Trek, Sheikh Nasir Mansur, ‎ stated this during a media briefing to kick-off this year’s annual Arbaeen symbolic trek for the North-west Zone in Kaduna.

He said the Arbaeen trek is a religious duty incumbent on all supporters of the holy household of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as a sign of solidarity.

According to him, “It is a response to a clarion call made by Imam. Hussain (AS), the grandson of the Prophet (S) on the plains of Karbala some 1400 years ago. Credible narrations from the Prophets (S) enjoin the faithful to respond to it even if it were to be by crawling.”

He however decried that, “already, there are reports that indicated that soldiers have mounted check points on the outskirts of Potiskum, Yobe State and detained a trailer carrying the personal belongings of those going to Kano for the walk kick-off.

“Apparently, these soldiers have some sinister motives as they were overheard scheming to plant weapons in the luggage and thereafter claim that these bags with the weapons belong to members of the IMN.

“Throughout the nearly four decades of the existence of IMN, it has never stockpiled‎, carried or used weapons. It never had any cause to even in the face of provocation,” the trek coordinator noted.

However, the group also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the movement, saying their detention contravenes some provisions in the Nigerian constitution.

It would be recalled that government of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina banned the activities of IMN in their states.

Hajj 2016: Abide By Stone Throw Timing, Nigeria Tell Pilgrims

By Bashir Bello

Makkah (Saudi Arabia) — To avert reoccurrence of stampede and prevent other unforeseen circumstances during the 2016 hajj exercise, Nigerian pilgrims have been called upon to abide by new arrangement of stone throw at Satan in the Jamrat.

Makkah Coordinator of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Dr. Aliyu Tanko made the call yesterday while sensitizing pilgrims from Adamawa State on the new arrangements.

Dr. Tanko said, currently the Ministry of Hajj of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working on the stipulated time each country will be expected to do the stoning of Satan.

He said, upon release of the timing, pilgrims will be grouped in batches of 250 and attached with a leader or guide, who would lead them to do the stoning.

He appealed to the pilgrims particularly the women, to abide by the timing and give them maximum support and cooperation to ensure the arrangement succeed.

According to him, “In the past what is obtainable is when pilgrims arrive at Muzdalifah, short stay or long stay, from Muzdalifah they pick their pebbles and head straight to Jamrat where they throw stones.

“But because of what happened last year, the authority took proactive measures in order to protect the lives and properties of the pilgrims. They decide to redirect that instead of everybody (pilgrims from the whole world) in Muzdalifah to be heading towards the Jamrat, they will return back to their tents in Mina.

“And then there is schedule for every country to go and throw the stone. Again, there is a guide assigned to every state that will be carrying the pilgrims in 250 batches. This guide who knows the terrain and root would lead these pilgrims from their tent to go and throw the Jamrat and bring them back.

“And by this arrangement, the issue of pilgrims missing their road which use to be very common and endanger many pilgrims is now over. So we are now soliciting for the cooperation of the pilgrims to obey their leadership so that everything will go smooth and they return back to Nigeria safely.

“So adequate arrangements have been made on these to ensure that within no time or in any case even if it will take longer time, the safety of the pilgrims is paramount.

“Again, right now the Ministry of Hajj, Saudi Arabia is working on the schedule for the whole world. And we hope by tomorrow (Tuesday) the schedule will be out. And when it is out, Nigeria will take it own and so it will relate to all the states in the federation. So that every state will know the exact time they are expected to move on the first, second and third day,” he said.

The Makkah Coordinator is however expected to take the sensitization lecture to the Team of Armed Forces and other pilgrims from Nigeria in Makkah.

A stampede had occurred during the 2015 hajj, claiming the lives of over 2000 pilgrims.

Saudi authorities have earlier announced a 12-hour ban on grouping of regular pilgrims from their tents in Mina to the Jamarat area, to throw pebbles at the pillars symbolizing Satan during the three days of the ritual from Dhul Hijjah 10-12 (Sept. 11-13).

The ministry said the procedure was taken to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and prevent overcrowding.

An announcement by the authorities on Wednesday said during the first day of the ritual, there will be no grouping of pilgrims to the Jamarat from 6 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

It said on the second day, the ban will be from 2 p.m to 6 p.m., and on the third and final day it will be from 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 
Saudi authorities said they reached an agreement on the procedure with Tawafa establishments and the Haj companies who handle pilgrims from all countries.

Insurgency: Nigerian Military Go Spiritual In Makkah

By Bashir Bello

Makkah (Saudi Arabia) — In the face of Nigeria’s current security challenges in the North-East dreaded Boko Haram region, and Niger-Delta avengers in South-South region, pilgrims from the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Holy land of Saudi Arabia have gone spiritual to combat the challenges.

Leader of the team, Colonel Shehu Garba Mustapha on Sunday, while speaking with newsmen in Makkah said, they were praying for the country to overcome its security challenges.

Col. Mustapha called on other pilgrims to do same by praying for their leaders at local, state and national levels.

He described the stone throw timing arrangements by the Saudi Arabia authority to control overcrowding as a welcome development.

He said the new arrangement will cushion the difficulties faced by the pilgrims while throwing the stone at Satan.

According to him, “The new arrangement is a welcome development because it doesn’t violate sharia. It is in accordance with islamic injunction that whenever there is difficulties, you are allow to do things that you are not allowed to do under normal circumstance.

“Prophet was reported to have said that al-hajj arafat and this changes come after arafat. So, it doesn’t affect hajj rite,” he said.

On the state of the nation, he said “We don’t have any other country to call our own other than Nigeria. The present government need our prayers to succeed and we must pray for Mr President and his team. I use this opportunity to call on all Nigerian pilgrims to pray for our country, Mr president and the leaders and those who loss their life may Allah forgive them.

“Both the security and other challenges that we facing in our nation, we should make request to Allah to remove and uproot them from Nigeria. Anytime we to go pray, we should pray for Nigeria and Mr President,” Col. Mustapha stated.

Happy Eid Al-Fitr

We felicitate with all our muslim readers on the occasion of 2016 Eid-El Fitr. We wish you Allah’s abundant blessings in this period and onward.

Eid Mubarak from AFRICA PRIME NEWS

NSCDC Deploys 40,000 Personnel To Beef-up Security For Sallah

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, has directed the deployment of 40,000 personnel to beef-up security during the Eid-il-Fitr celebration across the country.

A statement by NSCDC’s head of Press and Public Relations, Emmanual Okeh noted that the Commandant-General made this known to newsmen during a media parley and breaking of fast at his residence in Abuja, on Saturday.

According to the statement, Mohammadu assured Nigerians that, in spite of the uncertain security situation in some parts of the country, adequate preparation have been made to protect critical areas such as prayer grounds, markets, and motor parks among other soft targets.

He however called on the public to be vigilant and security conscious at all times by reporting any strange movements and objects around them to the security personnel; noting also, that the NSCDC was prepared to protect all critical national assets such as telecommunication masts and oil pipelines among others in collaboration with other security agencies.

“In our efforts to fight miscreants and criminal-minded individuals who see festive periods as the time to perpetuate their nefarious activities, all hands must be on deck in the areas of intelligence-gathering and reporting all suspicious behavior to relevant security authorities.”

While felicitating with all Nigerians, especially the Muslims on the Sallah celebrations, he urged them to continue to imbibe the spirit of peaceful coexistence and tolerance at all times.

Hajj 2016: Kaduna Announces Fare

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) — Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has released the 2016 Hajj fare for intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

According to the board, the state government has approved N1,019,350:00 as minimum fare with 750 US dollars as Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) and N1,068,600:00 as medium fare with 1,000 US dollars BTA.

This is contained in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi in Kaduna.

‘All prospective pilgrims from the state have already made deposits of minimum of N800,000:00’, said the statement.

The statement urged the intending pilgrims to hasten settlement of their remaining balance in good time to enable the board pay the NAHCON on schedule.

The Overseer of the Board, Imam Hussain Sulaiman Tsoho while addressing news men in his office has assured the Board’s commitment towards providing first class services to the intending pilgrims in order to attain an acceptable hajj by all the pilgrims from the state.

He commended the state government for providing all the necessary support to the board in ensuring the success of the hajj.

All the intending pilgrims are expected to complete payment in their respective registration centres on or before June 20, 2016 as this would enable the board complete necessary arrangements in collaboration with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

Imam Hussain explained that defaulters risk forfeiting their chance to make the trip as NAHCON has also fixed deadline for remittance of the fare.

Zakzaky Selfish, Power Monger — Splinter Group

By Bello Adisa

Kaduna (Nigeria) — A group, Jamaatu Tajdeed Islam (JTI) Thursday testified against the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky describing him as selfish who wants to be a Supreme Leader.

JTI, is a breakaway faction of the IMN, says its founder, Aminu Aliyu Gusau.

Addressing Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating clashes between Nigeria Army and Shiite in December 2015, Gusau said, he and Zakzakky were friends, and that they were of the same brotherhood, but parted ways when the brotherhood was growing to become a Shiite.

“We splitted in 1994 when I discovered the brotherhood we started is becoming Shiite. And then I went to form JTI.” He said

Gusau described El-Zakzaky as a person who wants to dominate, but with a weakness of allowing his followers to take drastic decisions without his knowledge.

When asked to comment on action of the Army in the December 12th clash, Gusau praised the Army for their tolerance while also admitting that the IMN does not recognize any constitution or authority.

In another submission contrary to that of the JTI, Secretary General of Rasulul Aazam Foundation, RAAF another Shiite group, Sheikh Saleh Zaria, frown at blanket statement on reffering to IMN as the only Shiite group in Nigeria.

Zaria who was out to correct the impression in the commission, said there are other shiite association that are law abiding.

He continued when he said there was no where in the Shiite beliefs, that says one should not recognise constituted authority established by law of the land, this according to him is what differentiates their group, among others from the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

Army/Shiite Clash Update: Kaduna Mass Buried 347 ‘Unknown’ Persons

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Kaduna state government in North-west Nigeria on Monday said a total of 347 unknown persons were given mass burial as a result of the 12^th-14^th December clash between the Nigeria Army and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shiite.

Secretary to the Kaduna state government, Balarabe Abbas Lawal disclosed this while giving the state’s attestations during the public hearing aimed at looking into the clash before the inquiry commission set up by the Government.

According to him, 156 corpses were taken from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, while 191 corpses were brought in from the Nigerian Depot, Zaria, and are buried in a grave yard along Mando-Zaria road.

On demolished houses at Husainiyya, Dambo centres, El-zakzaky house, Alhaji Tijjani Muhammad’s house, Alhaji Aminu Idris’s house, and Jushi; he said they are fail structures and are demolished without any ulterior or political reasons but for the interest of public safety and standards.

“347 unknown persons were killed in the Army/Shite clash, and were given mass burial on 14^th December, 2015,” he said.

Other presentations of the Kaduna state government included presentations from the below stakeholders;

Director General, Interfaith Kaduna, Nemadi M. Musa

• According to him, he received a phone call by the Kaduna state government directing him to go to Zaria to find out the number of corpses and how they would be buried.
• He said the SSG directed him while in company of the state commissioner of Police to move to ABUTH, Zaria to ascertain the number of corpses of which he went, saw and counted 156.
• At the Nigerian Depot, he said, the SSG directed him to meet with Major Ogundare regarding the corpses there. “After introducing myself, he refused to let me know of the number; but later on, the SSG called me and told me the number.”
• Musa said, the SSG told him that there were a total of 191 corpses at the Nigerian Depot; he also confirmed the number while they were being buried; as he counted it one after the other as they are laid in the grave.
• He said the corpse were deposited one after the other in one mass grave and the burial lasted from about 12.00 midnight to 5.30am.
• He said they left Nigeria Depot with three heavy duty trucks and 60 young officers who escorted them to assist in offloading the corpses.
• From ABUTH, Zaria, five small trucks carried the 196 corpses.
• The Interfaith DG noticed that most corpses were covered with black materials and they included women and children.

General Manager, Kaduna State Public Works Agency (KAPWA), Engineer Tanimu Abubakar

• He said, he went with Mallam Lawal Magaji to inspect the structure before they were demolished.
• After inspection, they submitted their report to Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA) on the appalling state of the structures in which it made recommendations.
• He said the puncture from the clash was responsible for the weakness of the building which warranted the demolition.

Deputy Director, Ministry of Works and Transport, Engr. Mohammad Lawal Magaji

• According to him, at the course of the inspection, he observed that the buildings were damaged and it necessitated demolition.
• He said he has never seen the structures before the incident (clash) happened.

Director, Clinical Services, Department of Surgery, ABUTH, Prof. Adamu Ahmed

• He said the hospital received a total of 66 patients in the Accident and Emergency unit 13^th December, 2015.
• According to him the numbers were overwhelming compare to the number of facilities on ground but had to mobilize for other Doctors, nurses and resources.
• Patients were sorted out based on their needs for medical attention and were resuscitated.
• Another set of 43 patients were received on 15^th December, 2015, while on 16^th December also, six patients were received.
• Of the 66 patients, most of them are male with the youngest 13 years and oldest 43.

On whether he was aware of military truck coming into the mortuary section of the hospital on13/14 December, he said, he didn’t see them but was informed by the head of Mortuary Department.

Army/Shiite Clash: Update Of Public Hearing And Attestations

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – On Thursday in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria, public hearing and attestations continued in order to look into the clash that happened between the Nigeria Army and Members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria (IMN) on 12^th-14^th December, 2015. Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), National headquarters, JNI, Zaria branch, and also an NGO (Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative) made presentations as Stakeholders in the inquiry process before the commission.

Below are briefs of their presentations.

Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative

Executive Director of the Centre, Mohammed Ali made the presentation. He was a former Minority Leader in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

• In his presentation, he said IMN has intention of forming a state within a state in Nigeria, because they have representations in form of Governors (Ameer) and councilors in all the states of the country including the FCT.
• According to him the movement has followership in Nigeria numbering about 3.5 million; and the Leader also recruits boys as young as 10 from Niger and Chad for a return of N100, 000 to be recruited into the group.
• IMN gets an indirect funding through the Iranian Embassy officials in Abuja who are known as local handlers and are Iranians.
• His findings reveals that, the movement is an illegal organization, because it is not registered with the Corporate Affairs office in Nigeria nor with the Islamic Movement for Africa, noting that, Islamic Movement Association of Nigeria is the known register body in Nigeria which has an office in Lagos not IMN.
• He described Elzakzaky as an ‘impostor’ who alongside his members hold no allegiance to any authority other than the Movement.
• Their activities posed a great threat to the collective existence of Nigeria as an entity; saying while doing their processions or match pass, they always carry Iranian flag not Nigeria’s on the soil of the country.
• If government does not do anything about their activities, it can become a menace that will be more than Boko Haram because members of the movement receive military training in warfare, has camouflages and weapons.
• He gave pictures and video clips as further evidence showing Hizbullah brigade of the movement having processions and receiving trainings.
• He also gave an instance that happen in 26^th October 2010 where weapons were incepted in Lagos and was later traced to be connected to IMN and the Iranian government.
• On any members known to him in which their activities assisted in fueling the crisis; Ali said he knows of Prof. Dahiru Yahaya of Bayero University Kano and also an Ameer in Kaduna, Murhtar Sahabi.

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), National Headquarters

JNI, National Headquarters made its presentation through the National Secretary Khalid Abubakar Aliyu.

• Aliyu said JNI as an umbrella and supreme body of Islam in Nigeria, that regulates Islamic activities, IMN does not recognized it neither is it registered with the body; all efforts aimed at making it register proof abortive.
• He accused Shiite of trying to Make Nigeria a Lebanon where they can have a government within a government.
• He also stressed that, IMN are getting direct funding from the Iranian Government – It is very clear Leader of the Movement, Ibraheem Elzakzaky has never engaged in any business venture nor is he a civil servant; as such the source of money he gets and lavishing on the movement is questionable.
• JNI however recommended the creation of the Ministry for Religious Affairs to checkmate excesses of Clerics in the country, and urged government to always take proactive measures on recommendations made as they have made recommendations in the past regarding IMN but government was silent about it.

JNI, Zaria Branch

• JNI, Zaria Branch through its Chairman, Abdullahi Yahaya said as a corporate body of Islamic Body in Zaria, Elzakzaky has never recognized them.
• He said the movement hosted Persian flags in their Temple in Husainiyya which is a sign that, they have no respect for any given authority in Nigeria.
• He described the movement as a rebellious movement that is against any power in Nigeria.
• According to him, activities of the movernment in Nigeria stated in the early 1980s when the leader, Elzakzaky was a student in the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he started having some kind of relationship the Iranian government which was not conceal like now.
• He also noted that the Body has received various complains between the Shiite and other Muslim groups but after lodging complains to the Police, it was treated casually.
• He presented copies of Almizan newspapers, vedio clips to the chairman of the commission to further buttress what he has in his memoranda.

Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Lawal Garba, at the end of the Thursday hearing adjourned proceedings to Monday 11^th April, for the continuation of presentations.

Lent: Nigeria Muslim Clerics Task Christians On Prayers For Peace

By Ibrahima Yakubu

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigeria’s Muslim Clerics have called on Christians to redouble their efforts in prayers and Bible studies especially at the holy month for God’s blessings and intervention to challenges faced by Africa and the world in general regarding peace and stability.

The team of clerics from Kaduna, North-west Nigeria stated this when they visited the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Pastor Yohanna Buru to wish Christians a successful lent period for 2016.

The visitation also was aimed at encouraging cleric-to-clerics visitation so as to further strengthen peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among Nigerians.

While congratulating Christians all over the world for the commencement of the 40 days fasting, leader of the team Alaramma Abdulrahman Bichi, described the lent period as ‘a very special and Holy period to all Christians’ as such, they have come to felicitate and wish them success from the start to the end of the lent.

He said, “Lent is the period of preparation for Holy Week and Easter; it’s a very importance seasons for dedication to worship the Lord; Some churches hold the custom of making ashes from the palm crosses of the previous year and, in the Ash Wednesday service, marking the foreheads of participants with ash, signifying a period of penitence – many churches also remove items that are colorful or ornate, or cover them over with cloths of a drab or purple color, both of which signify penitence.”

Bichi added that, “during our holy month of Ramadan, Many Christians clerics wished us success for our 30 days fasting; so we are also here to wish them same as brothers. We are from one family Adam and Eve, worshiping one God; we all believed in paradise and Hell, as well as believed on the day of resurrection. Therefore, lets us all keep on living in peace and harmony by learning to accommodate and tolerate each other so as to make our country great.”

While making his remarks, Pastor Yohanna Buru thanked the Muslim Cleric for their visit and said, during Ramadan period, they also identify with the Muslim fellows by joining to break their fast.

He said, “We have been doing that for many years. We have also visited Muslim scholars in their places of worship and have joined them in breaking their fast, all with the sole aims of promoting peace and religious tolerance.”

He further appealed to both Muslims and Christians to live in peace and embrace one another so as to make Nigeria a wonderful place to live.