The Department of State Services (DSS) has on Friday in Abuja said that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, is not dead, contrary to rumours.

An official of the service who preferred to remain anonymous, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that El-Zakzaky was hale and hearty.

He was arrested in 2015 after his members had a confrontation with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.

53 of his followers were arrested on Wednesday by the Police in Abuja following a violent protest.

Since the arrest and detention of the group’s leader, his followers had organised series of protests in some cities in the country calling for his release.