FG reportedly flew Shiite leader to France for treatment

monjola sotubo

January 25, 2016 12:02 PM

The crisis occurred after members of the group allegedly attempted to assassinate Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Ibraheem El Zakzaky

The leader of Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky was reportedly flown to France to receive treatment for injuries he sustained during a clash between the group and the Nigerian Army in December 2015.

The crisis occurred after members of the group allegedly attempted to assassinate Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The incident led to El Zakzaky’s arrest and his whereabouts have been in question since the battle.

“It is true that the federal government flew him out of the country for treatment,” a source told Vanguard.

“He was stabilized before he was brought back to Nigeria. The government did not want to take chances by keeping him in the country.

We did not want a repeat of the incident with the late leader of the Boko Haram movement whose death in custody exacerbated the crisis in the North East,” the source added.

The spokesperson of the group, Ibrahim Musa also confirmed the reports to Vanguard and said that El Zakzaky was currently recuperating in Abuja.

Musa had earlier warned the government to reveal the Shiite leader’s location if it indeed wants peace in the country.

monjola sotubo