Shi'ites embark on Peaceful Protest In Kaduna, Deny Terrorist' claim

The Islamic movement in Nigeria (IMN) has come out to say that its organisation is not a terrorist group.This was made known yesterday when the Shi'ites members embarked on a  peaceful demonstration in Kaduna metropolis demanding the unconditional  release of their  leader Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who has been detained for the past 50 days by security agents.

The protesters who were mostly students under the auspices of the academic  forum of the movement said it is pathetic that contrary to the Nigerian constitution that said nobody can be detained more than 24 hours  without being charged to the court, Sheik El-Zakzaky had been in custody for over fifty days.

The leader of the protest, Mikaeel Yusuf said following the alleged military  assault on the residence of El-Zakzaky and two of their centers,  730 of their members have been missing while 220 are in Kaduna prison amongst them women and students.

"This is a display of inhumane and gross violation of fundamental  human rights against fellow Nigerian citizens. We are calling for the immediate release of Allamah Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife as well as all others in detention. We are demanding justice right now" the group stressed.

The group also queried the rationale behind the heavy crackdown on peaceful dissension by the government.

Meanwhile the group in another interaction with newsmen declared that it was not a terrorist organisation insisting that its members have no weapons.

According to the movement's interim leader, Yakubu Yahaya  the movement does not use arms against anyone.

"We dont need weapons and we have never used it,'' he said tersly.

Yahaya said attempts to associate the movement with use of weapons were designed to give it a bad name to hang it.

He also reiterated the movement's resolve not to appear before the commission of enquiry constituted by Kaduna State following recent clash between the Shiites and Army.

While faulting the composition of the committee, the Shiites Leader said "we need members of human rights to be included" adding that the Movement should be represented on the committee.

According to the Shia leader, the Movement would consider honouring the committee only if its leader, Ibrahim Elzakzaki is released.

He listed other conditions which must be fulfiled before the Movement could honour the Committee to include unconditional release of its members allegedly being held in detention, payment of compensation and release of corpses of its members killed during the clash.

Related News

500
Leave a comment...