Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has stirred nationwide debate after alleging that the United States is responsible for creating and funding Boko Haram, ISIS and ISWAP.
A video of the cleric, which surfaced online on Thursday, captured him linking Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity crisis to the actions of politicians and foreign interests. He claimed that the violence ravaging the country “did not grow on its own,” insisting that those in government have the capacity to end it but have simply refused.
El-Zakzaky questioned how individuals known primarily as cattle rearers suddenly began operating with sophisticated weapons, including heavy guns and armoured vehicles in remote bushes. He argued that such equipment does not appear without powerful backing and maintained that security authorities are aware of those supplying the weapons.
He went further to accuse the United States of openly admitting to funding extremist groups in various regions, suggesting it is impossible for Nigeria to expect solutions from a foreign power he believes contributed to the rise of terrorism.
The cleric also linked foreign interest to regions rich in natural resources, noting that areas in Zamfara and Katsina become hotspots whenever gold, oil or gas are involved.
He said:
“The Insecurity Problem in Nigeria was created by politicians in power and If they want to stop it today, they would because they are the ones who engineered it.
“How come those people who are known to be cattle rearers have guns in the bush? How come those people they call bandits have armoured vehicles in the bushes and they call them terrorists?
“Where did these tankers come from? From the earth or they moved through? Everybody knows that authorities are behind this insecurity, if they want to stop it today, they can stop it.
“By inviting the US which we know very clearly that they are behind all these insecurity, the US created Boko Haram, the US is funding Boko Haram, the US created ISWAP, they created ISIS, and they confessed it openly.
“They said that they would use terrorism to conquer Africa, now you expect them to bring the remedy to what they caused, what do you expect? Mass killings of people.
“They will come to steal our resources, you will see them where there is gold, oil, gas, and other security resources. That is why you will see them protecting Christians in Zamfara and Katsina.”
