Nigerian police sources have alleged that a Shiite Muslim sect is engaged in gun-running and training of militant youths drawn from 13 states in the predominantly-Muslim northern Nigeria as well as neighbouring Niger Republic at its headquarters in Zaria, northern Kaduna state. The allegation, published by the private Guardian newspaper Thursday, was contained in an intelligence report sent to the country’s Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, by the Kaduna state police boss, Tambari Muhammad. ”The training camp is out of bounds to members of the public except those linked to the Shiite sect. The village is guarded 24 hours by members of the group and they are strategically located around the area,” the Kaduna police boss alleged. However, the leader of the sect – Islamic Movement of Nigeria – Sheikh Ibrahim Zakyzaky, denied the allegation.
