El-Zakzaky Accuses U.S., Politicians of Fueling Nigeria’s Insecurity

Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has accused the United States and some Nigerian political actors of orchestrating and sustaining the insecurity ravaging the country.

In a video circulating online, the Shi’ite cleric alleged that the U.S. was responsible for the creation and financing of Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

El-Zakzaky claimed insecurity persisted because it served the interests of powerful individuals within and outside the country.

According to him, it was questionable that individuals known to be cattle rearers suddenly gained access to sophisticated weapons and armoured vehicles.

He said:
“How come those people who were known as cattle rearers now parade guns in the bush? How did so-called bandits acquire armoured vehicles? Did these machines emerge from the ground or pass through legitimate routes?

“Everybody knows the authorities are behind this insecurity. If they want to end it today, they can.”

The IMN leader further alleged that inviting the U.S. into Nigeria’s security operations was counterproductive, insisting that the country “openly confessed” to promoting terrorism as a tool to dominate Africa.

He said the real objective was to exploit Nigeria’s mineral resources.

“They will come for our gold, oil, gas and other strategic resources. That is why you see them positioning themselves where such resources exist,” he alleged, adding that foreign interests were hiding under the guise of offering protection to vulnerable communities.

El-Zakzaky also blamed political leaders for engineering the crisis for selfish ends, insisting that insecurity would subside only when those benefiting from it are ready to stop.