El-Zakzaky, wife in protective custody, says Army

The Army has denied the killing of the wife of Shi'ite leader ,saying the couple is in protective custody. General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, said Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife were in the protective custody of the military.

The Army boss said the Islamic leader will soon be allowed to speak with his followers to enable them believe he is alive.

He said:

 “The Shi’ite leader, Zakzaky, is safe and in a protective custody with his wife in a conducive environment.We will allow him to speak with his followers. There was jubilation in Zaria as regards army’s engagement in the city.As military, we had to do what we did to restore sanity because the sect is fond of mounting illegal roadblocks and checking motorists as if it is a government.”

In a statement by the President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, the sect said:

“About 1,000 of our members have been killed. The counting continues. Soldiers are evacuating the bodies to an unknown destination.”