It is almost four decades since Sheikh Zakzaky started his peaceful call to social justice and adaptation of religious values in Nigeria and Africa in general. His movement has now grown into over 20 million followers in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries. He is currently a global phenomenon, especially after the 2015 Massacre in Zaria. His call to social justice and removal of widespread political corruption has led to vicious campaigns against him and his mainly Shiʿi followers. In July 2014, the Nigerian army opened fire on a peaceful pro-Palestinian procession in Zaria, where they killed 34 followers of the Sheikh, including his 3 biological children, Ahmad, Hameed and Mahmud.

In December 2015, Buhari’s civilian administration attacked the Sheikh in his residence after killing 3 more of his children (Hammad, Haidar and Humaid) and over a thousand of his followers. He was severely shot and whisked alongside his wife Zeenah into illegal detention for more than four years. Over hundreds of his followers have been killed in various protests calling for his release.

Sheikh Zakzaky has been jailed in various prisons across the country. During the military dictatorship of Olusegun Obasanjo, he was detained behind cells for weeks in Zaria. Shehu Shagari detained the Sheikh in Enugu prison. Buhari previously detained the Sheikh in Kirikiri prison in Lagos during his military dictatorship. Babangida in Port Harcourt prison, Abacha in Port Harcourt and Kaduna prisons.