Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has levelled sweeping allegations against the United States and Nigerian political leaders, accusing them of playing central roles in the rise and continued spread of terrorism across the country.
In a widely circulated video, El-Zakzaky claimed that the U.S. was among the creators of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and is currently funding the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). According to him, Nigeria’s persistent insecurity is not accidental but engineered by powerful interests both inside and outside the country.
El-Zakzaky argued that the sophistication of armed groups operating in Nigeria raises serious questions about the source of their equipment. He said it was implausible that groups once known for cattle rearing could suddenly acquire high-grade weapons and armoured vehicles, suggesting the involvement of political actors and state-connected networks.
“The insecurity problem in Nigeria was created by politicians in power,” he said. “If they want to stop it today, they would, because they are the ones who engineered it.”
He questioned how alleged bandits roaming the bushes came into possession of armoured vehicles, insisting that such military-grade assets could not have emerged without the complicity of authorities.
“Where did these tankers come from? From the earth, or they moved through? Everybody knows that authorities are behind this insecurity,” he added. “If they want to stop it today, they can stop it.”
El-Zakzaky also criticised collaborations between Nigeria and the United States on counter-terrorism, claiming that Washington had previously admitted to using terrorism as a tool to influence African nations.
“The U.S. created Boko Haram. The U.S. is funding Boko Haram. The U.S. created ISWAP, they created ISIS, and they confessed it openly,” he said. “Now you expect them to bring the remedy to what they caused?”
He further alleged that foreign powers are motivated by Nigeria’s natural resources, saying they often appear in regions where gold, oil, gas, and other strategic minerals are found. According to him, this explained what he described as selective protection of certain communities in Zamfara and Katsina.
El-Zakzaky’s remarks add to ongoing public debates over the origins of Nigeria’s security crisis, though no independent evidence has been provided to substantiate his claims. His comments continue to spark strong reactions from both supporters and critics, particularly amid heightened national concerns over terrorism, banditry, and political accountability.
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