News / Interviews

Nigeria, Boko Haram complicit in anti-Shia crimes: Pundit

Tuesday, 15 December 2015 6:37 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 15 December 2015 7:32 AM ]

Nigerian military forces are seen at a site where they opened fire on the Shia Muslims who had gathered to attend a religious ceremony in Zaria, Kaduna State, December 12, 2015.

Press TV conducts an interview with Shabbir Hassanally, an activist and Islamic scholar, and Kehinde Sonola, a human rights activist from London, to discuss Nigeria’s brutal crackdown against Shia Muslims in the country.

Hassanally believes Nigeria has a hand in attacks by Boko Haram terrorists against Shia Muslims in the African state, saying it is “obvious” that the government in Abuja actually controls the Takfiri group.

Rejecting the Nigerian army’s claims of involvement in an anti-terror campaign, he says If “you want to be strong in fighting terrorism, go and fight the people who have given allegiance to Daesh, but of course they can’t fight Boko Haram, because they are Boko Haram” themselves.

“The government of Nigeria is controlled by Tel Aviv and Washington,” said the analyst, adding that the authorities in Abuja do not take any measures without the approval of their “masters” in Washington.

Sonola, for his part, describes as “shocking” the rising death toll from the Nigerian military raid against Shia Muslims, saying the Nigerian army tried to display its power after coming under criticism for failing to do more to contain the violence fueled by Boko Haram terrorists.

Pointing to allegations that an attempt by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria to block a military convoy to assassinate the army general, the commentator said Nigerian troops actually responded to an unproven accusation.

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www.presstv.co.uk