Bullet fragments from the Zaria massacre are still lodged in our bodies. -El-Zakzaky

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, claims that bullet fragments were still in his and his wife Zeenat’s bodies six years after soldiers attacked him and his supporters in Zaria in December 2015.

He also promised to keep up his philanthropy, claiming that providing free food is essential to ending hunger in the country.

El-Zakzaky spoke when he received some pastors who came on a solidarity visit after his acquittal by a Kaduna State High Court, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Vice President (Media Forum of IMN), Abdullahi Usman.

They also came to express their gratitude for the food he had been distributing to Christian widows whose husbands had been victims of insecurity.

After nearly six years in detention, the visit came two months after the court’s decision.

“El-Zakzaky said giving out food to the needy is nothing, and he will continue to give out food to the needy,” Usman said.

“He also urged people to be kind to the poor in order to end hunger in the country.

“Sheikh El-Zakzaky, who recounted some of his and his wife’s ordeals during the Nigerian Army’s attack on him in December 2015 and their detention in DSS custody despite their deteriorating health, described their recovery as a miracle.

“The Sheikh stated that there were bullet fragments in his and his wife’s bodies up until that day. He also expressed gratitude to the Christian clergy for their presence.”

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The Sheikh described the pastors as his “brothers in humanity,” and said he would have liked to meet more people if it hadn’t been for health reasons and the country’s insecurity.

Pastor Yohanna Buru of Kaduna, Rev. Titus Ishaku of Baptist Church in Jos, Rev. John Ahmadu of Abuja, Rev. Peter Audu of Abuja, Rev. George T. John of Kaduna, and Pastor Julius Audu were among the delegation.

Buru, who described the solidarity visit as “overwhelming” and “exciting.”

Thousands of people in the state have benefited from El-generosity, Zakzaky’s he said, over the last four years.

Ahmadu stated that before meeting the Sheikh, he had a different perspective on Muslims and Islam, and that he was pleased to hear the IMN leader speak of unity.