Shitte Cleric, Wife Alive: Nigerian Army
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Nigerian army said that the leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife are alive and in the protective custody of the military.
Earlier reports by the media said that Zeenat, the top cleric's wife, and Aliy, their son, were among the scores of people killed during a raid on Zakzaky's home by the Nigerian Army on Sunday.
General officer commanding Division 1 of the Nigerian army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, said at a press conference on Monday that Zeenat and her husband were rescued during the clashes that has so far claimed 100 lives according to reports.
However, the fate of the son of the Shiite leader is uncertain, and the army has made no comment on his being either dead or alive, Nigeria-based news website NAIJ.com reported.
Authorities accuse the Islamic Movement of trying to assassinate the chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Islamic Movement has denied the allegations, saying that the soldiers opened fire on the people attending an annual ritual to usher in the month of Maulud, the birth month of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
