Nigerian security operatives met in Abuja early last week and came out with a blueprint on how to phase out members of the Islamic Movement (Shiite group) in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqub Zakzkay (H) and its influence in the country.
A leaked security report reveals high level decision and consultations, some of which are currently being implemented. Close source confirmed that the planned onslaught on the Islamic Movement was divided into long term and short term plans.
Part of the short term plan was to take full advantage of the upcoming worldwide Quds Day procession slated for Friday 20/09/2009, which the Islamic Movement had been conducting for the past thirty years, to attack the procession under the pretext of maintaining law and order. Already, plain clothes security operatives have been stationed in and around Zaria city and environs from 05/09/2009 to set the stage for action.
According to the report, a special squad tagged “Anti Terrorist Sqaud” was formed and dispatched to Zaria, Kano, Katsina and Delta to actualize the set objective. The report was specific on Zaria, where it said, security operatives will unleash “Massive Massacre” by way of indiscriminate shooting of those who will take part in the procession and onlookers. Consequently, the shooting and attack will spread to neighboring towns in Zaria, under the guise of hunting for the fleeing members of the Movement.
Prior to the Quds Day procession, as planned, intensive check point will be mounted from 16/09/2009 to 20/09/2009, along all routes leading to Zaria, where security operatives will apprehend suspicious person that may have the resemblance of Member of the Islamic Movement.
The long term plan, according to the security report, was to be actualized in four years from now (2009 -2013). This will involve taking stoke of all Islamic scholars who have sympathy or ally with the Islamic Movement, so much attention will be on them in an attempt to buy them over. Such clerics will be regularly sponsored for Hajj and Umrah more than before. In order to keep regular tab on their movements and activities, security operatives will infiltrate into their circle, to the extent that a government security personnel will become their trusted disciple who will be a link between him and the government. The Government will be responsible for regular renewal of their cars, house renovation, regular food supply and any other essential services.
Such scholars, as contained in the plan, will be engaged in regular meetings from local, state and federal level as part of effort to discourage them from associating with Sheikh Zakzaky and his followers. Similarly, intensive propaganda will be put in place in media houses; scholars will be sponsored to preach hatred against the Shiites and their teachings. Singers will also be involved for the same purpose.
In a related development, the Kaduna State police commissioner, who earlier sent an intelligence report to Abuja demanding drastic action on Sheikh Zakzkay and the Islamic Movement, was seen in Rigasa where he held a meeting with district heads, Islamic scholars and community leaders and tasked them to conduct census of followers of Sheikh Zakzaky in their respective areas and report their movements. According to sources from the meeting, the CP told them that there is going to be a major operation soon. Similar meetings were reported to have taken place in Zaria and other places.
It would be recalled that an online medium chidiopera.com had leaked a terror alert from the United States Embassy in Abuja, which revealed that the US government is not comfortable with the activities of Sheikh Zakzkay and therefore putting pressure on Nigerian government to move against him and his followers. According to this online medium, the leaked intelligence report by the Kaduna State CP was at the instance of the US Embassy in Abuja.
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