Wahhabi attacks on Shi’a Muslims sets dangerous precedent in Nigeria

The persecution of followers of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), also known as Shi’a Muslims, has become rampant in Nigeria.

This has gained momentum especially following last December’s massacre of 2,000 men, women, and children in Zaria by the army, as was evident earlier this month by the cold blooded killing of several Nigerians in the state of mourning on the Day of Ashura, the 10^th of Moharram, while commemorating the martyrdom anniversary of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Husain (PuH). In the wake of growing state-supported terrorism by the heretical Wahhabi cult, a leading religious leader of a popular Sufi spiritual order has expressed support for the rights of his Shi’a Muslim compatriots. Please stay with us for a news report titled: “Wahhabi Attacks on Shi’a Muslims sets Dangerous Precedent in Nigeria.”

Revered north Nigerian Sheikh and Islamic scholar and leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi Order, Dahiru Bauchi, who heads the largest Islamic group in West Africa, has issued a strong warning to Kaduna state governor Nasir ar-Rufai, Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians and the world at large on “Izala extremism” crisis in the north and the persecution of Shi’a Muslims.

About 20% of Nigerian Muslims identify with the Tijaniyya Sufi Order which predominates in West and North Africa. The Izala Society, formally Jama’at Izalat al Bid’a Wa Iqamat as Sunna (Society of Removal of Innovation and Re-establishment of the Sunna), also called JIBWIS is a controversial north Nigeria sect created for attacking other Muslims that it regards as “deviant,” including the Tijaniyya and Qadiriyya Sufi Orders as well as Shi’a Muslims. In the 20 minute interview clip, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi raised an alarm on the brewing religious crisis centered in Kaduna state. Asked if it’s true that Darika (or Tijaniyya) and Izala are coming together to fight Shi’a Muslims, he rejected the report flat out and said it’s a lie by whoever that invented it. Further stating that there was never a time they agreed on that and that the Tijaniyya have never had problems with Shi’a Muslims but only had issues with the Izalas, he said Tijaniyya has no problem with Shi’a Muslims, and the two groups have lived in peace all the years. He said the Izalas have unfortunately calling the Darikas as Kuffar or infidels, similar to their campaign of hate and violence against Nigerian Shi’a Muslims.

The Tijaniyya Sheikh said the attack on Shi’a Muslims had an ulterior motive. Not only Shi’a Muslims are the target, but any group not agreeing with the monstrous extremist teaching of the Salafis, is in danger. He held the Kaduna state governor Nasir ar-Rufai for precipitating the ongoing attacks against Shi’a Muslims, saying that such attacks on Shi’a Muslims by Wahhabi thugs is a dangerous precedent in Nigeria. He warned the government especially Kaduna governor ar-Rufai to stand up to his duties and stop the Izala extremist youths from burning the houses of Shi’a Muslims.

In his speech, Bauchi, who escaped a bomb attack in 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorist outfit, equated the Salafis and the Izala sect with Boko Haram, Da’esh and other Takfiri groups all over the world. He called them “the creation of Saudi Arabia and that all over the world wherever there was crisis in a Muslim state, Riyadh was behind it. He said some Wahhabi elements who went after the Shi’a Muslims to kill them and raid and burn their homes, were heard saying that after finishing with Shi’a Muslims they would turn on Christians and then “Darika” or the Tijaniyya Sufi Order. He warned that the Federal government should watch out and prevent Izala youths or what will come will be the worst! Sheikh Bauchi charged the Buhari government with romancing with radical Wahhabis and their Saudi masters, warning that it is bad omen for the government and Nigeria. He specifically singled out Bala Lau whom he dismissed as a trafficker of women to the Saudis as the architect of the pogrom against Shi’a Muslims.

Sheikh Bauchi said it is wrong for governor ar-Rufai to end the peace and attempt to limit religious freedoms, that the government cannot prevent the Shi’a Muslims from practicing their rituals. Ar-Rufai cannot ban anybody. He has only two years and seven months left. Let’s see who he will ban after that. He also warned of attacking His Darika (or Tijaniyya) Sufi Order, saying it is better to touch electricity than dare attack them. He said governor ar-Rufai is taking the law into his hands by encouraging the Izala ruffians. The Sheikh called on the world and the Nigerian federal government, emphasizing that Boko Haram and Izala are one and the same with the same ideology. He said that the only difference is Boko Haram isn’t afraid while the Izalas are afraid and love money. He further said that Mohammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader was an offspring of Sheikh Ja’far the disciple of Sheikh Abu Bakr Gumi, before the two quarreled and had a misunderstanding about western education and politics. It was Sheikh Abu Bakr Gumi who imported Wahhabi Takfiri ideology into Nigeria from Saudi Arabia, and later when Mohammad Yusuf set up the Boko Haram outfit for political gains, he was backed by European powers who provided him dollars and SUVs. On the conduct of Nigeria’s police and military, Sheikh Bauchi said the police force and the army are the two vital institutions to ensure public safety in a country, but unfortunately in Nigeria some of them were notorious for using the Boko Haram phenomenon as mechanism to make money. He said that all over soldiers and police violate their duties.

EA