Zakzaky claims that only Islam can offer solution to the complex socio-political problems facing Nigeria, which has over the years stagnated the country's development.

He has been detained several times due to accusations of civil disobedience or recalcitrance under military regimes in Nigeria during the 1980s and 1990s, and is still viewed with suspicion or as a threat by Nigerian authorities.

[13] The Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) held a symposium on "The Creation of the Illegal State of Israel" at Arewa House Kaduna on 21 May 2008.

[14]On Friday 25 July 2014, the Nigerian Army reportedly fatally shot 35 followers of Ibraheem Zakzaky, including three of his sons,[15] after a pro-Palestinian procession in Zaria.

[16] Sheikh al-Zakzaky was injured and arrested along with his wife, in the 2015 Zaria massacre, in which three of his remaining sons, as well as hundreds of his followers, were killed by the Nigerian Army.

[17][2] According to the judgment of the high court of Nigeria on 2 December 2016, Ibraheem Yaqoub El Zakzaky was ordered to be released from Department of State Services into police custody within 45 days.

[6] On 16 January 2017, Amnesty International demanded that the "Nigerian authorities must immediately comply with a High Court order and release Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife from detention.

"[18] On 13 January 2018, Zakzaky, detained at an unknown location without charges since December 2015, made a short public appearance, his first in two years, being allowed to see his doctor.

[25] In July 2019, in order to demand the release of Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, hundreds of people gathered outside government buildings and police tried to disperse them by firing guns into the air and using tear gas.

Abdullahi Murtala, a security analyst said, "Shia Muslims are emboldened by the perceived injustice of an 'immoral state' and will continue their protest and show of defiance against the Buhari government".