The Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Intercessory Fellowship Ministries, Kakuri Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna D. Buru has disclosed to the people of Umuobom village under Umunkwo Autonomous Community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, the killers of one of their chiefs, late chief Julius Ezem Anyanwu, the Nnanyereugo of Umunkwo.
Pastor Buru who led a six-man delegation to represent the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky at the burial ceremony of late Chief Anyanwu which took place over the weekend at Umuobom, told the chiefs, elders, family and leaders of the community who came from all walks of life to attend the burial ceremony, that chief Anyanwu was not killed by a Muslim, a Hausa man or a northerner but by soldiers under the command of a Christian Army Officer, Lt. col. S. Okuh, all of Southern extraction.
“Contrary to what you may have been told by agents of those that masterminded the killing of chief Anyanwu, three children of the Leader of the Islamic Movement and thirty-three innocent and peaceful members of the movement, on the 25th of July, 2014, the chief was killed by Christian soldiers under the command of a Christian commander from the same geopolitical zone with late chief Anyanwu”, Pastor Buru stressed.
Pastor Buru informed the gathering that chief Anyanwu was shot dead at close range by the soldiers when he tried to ask them why they were killing members of the movement who were protesting peacefully against the brutal massacre of defenseless Palestinians by the blood-thirsty Israeli soldiers.
Late Anyanwu was overheard telling the soldiers that “these youths (Shiites) are among, if not the most peaceful and organized set of Muslims in Nigeria who have been carrying out similar peaceful protests annually for close to three decades, have never disrupted our peace during their programmes, so, why shooting them?” . This candid comment by the chief, according to pastor Buru, did not go down well with the soldiers and hence decided to turn the gun on him and consequently brought his life to a halt.
The Pastor who condoled the family of the deceased and the entire Umuobom Community on behalf of Sheikh Zakzaky, his family and the entire members of the Islamic Movement for the great loss of their chief and brother, said giving the circumstances surrounding chief Anyanwu’s death he died a martyr.
Pastor Buru who prayed for to the Almighty God to give the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, stressing that the Islamic Movement will continue to remember late Anyanwu as its own because he gave his life defending its cause and a popular justified cause.
He therefore advised the Igbo race to identify with Sheik Zakzaky because he is the only remaining voice in the country that is genuinely advocating for justice, love and genuine unity and sovereignty of the country.
According to pastor Buru, Sheikh Zakzaky remains the only true Muslim leader who accommodates people of different ethnic and religious inclination, and who every oppressed need to align with for protection, justice and peace.
He cited example of how non-Muslims Igbos, sought refuge for days in the house of Sheikh Zakzaky during the 2011 post-election crises in Zaria.
Sheikh Zakzaky’s disciples, he added, provided security to the entire area where he lives.
Also speaking, leader of Owerri Muslim community, and the deputy Imam of Owerri central mosque, Sheikh Salihu Animashany said challenging injustice, oppression, and any other crime against humanity is a divine injunction and whoever died in the process is a martyr.
On pastor Buru’s delegation were Abu Jihad, Ahmed Abubakar Bakauye, Sheikh Salihu Animashamn, Mallam Miqdad Owerri and Mallam Fearuna Enugu.
