Followers
of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky have staged a peaceful protest to mark
three years of Zaria massacre and El-Zakzaky's "unlawful detention" by
the Nigerian government.The protesters carried placards and stormed the
federal secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, chanting anti-government
songs and demanding the release of their spiritual leader, who has been
in custody since December 2015. Addressing the protesters, Abdullahi
Musa, Secretary of the Academic Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria
(IMN), said El-Zakzaky is being kept in detention for "no just cause".In
his words: "On 12 December, 2015, a planned and systematic attack on
Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky was launched by the Nigerian Army under a hoax
of road blockage. The attack lasted for more than 48 hours and led to
the killing of more than 1,000 people, including women and
children.Those killed during the attack include sons of Sheikh Zakzaky
namely, Ali, Hamid and Humaid. After the attack, the Buhari-led
administration detained the Sheikh without proper medical care. The
attack started when soldiers of the Nigerian Army were stationed
directly opposite Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah Centre (where teaching
sessions and other activities are held) located along Sokoto road,
adjacent to polo pitch, Zaria, Kaduna State.On that day, the followers
of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky were to commemorate the arrival of Rabiul
Awwal, the birth month of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA)." According
to Musa, the soldiers burnt many people alive, including an elder sister
to Sheikh Zakzaky. He also accused the Nigerian Army of conducting a
"secret mass burial of the victims at a site in Mando Kaduna.Three years
after the Zaria massacre and despite the recommendation made by the
report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) of July 2016 for the
prosecution of the perpetrators of the Zaria massacre, the Nigerian
government under Buhari is yet to prosecute the perpetrators of these
great atrocities.In fact, instead of prosecuting the perpetrators,
Tyrant Buhari continued to give orders for further killing of the
followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. The recent killing is the attack
made by the Military and Nigerian Police during the annual Arbaeen
Symbolic Trek between 27th and 30th October, 2018 where more than 50
followers of Sheikh Zakzaky were killed in Abuja." He, however, stated
that the group would not relent in its demand for the unconditional
release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife.Shiite members hold protest to mark three years of El-Zakzaky's 'unlawful' detention
Followers
of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky have staged a peaceful protest to mark
three years of Zaria massacre and El-Zakzaky's "unlawful detention" by
the Nigerian government.The protesters carried placards and stormed the
federal secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, chanting anti-government
songs and demanding the release of their spiritual leader, who has been
in custody since December 2015. Addressing the protesters, Abdullahi
Musa, Secretary of the Academic Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria
(IMN), said El-Zakzaky is being kept in detention for "no just cause".In
his words: "On 12 December, 2015, a planned and systematic attack on
Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky was launched by the Nigerian Army under a hoax
of road blockage. The attack lasted for more than 48 hours and led to
the killing of more than 1,000 people, including women and
children.Those killed during the attack include sons of Sheikh Zakzaky
namely, Ali, Hamid and Humaid. After the attack, the Buhari-led
administration detained the Sheikh without proper medical care. The
attack started when soldiers of the Nigerian Army were stationed
directly opposite Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah Centre (where teaching
sessions and other activities are held) located along Sokoto road,
adjacent to polo pitch, Zaria, Kaduna State.On that day, the followers
of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky were to commemorate the arrival of Rabiul
Awwal, the birth month of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA)." According
to Musa, the soldiers burnt many people alive, including an elder sister
to Sheikh Zakzaky. He also accused the Nigerian Army of conducting a
"secret mass burial of the victims at a site in Mando Kaduna.Three years
after the Zaria massacre and despite the recommendation made by the
report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) of July 2016 for the
prosecution of the perpetrators of the Zaria massacre, the Nigerian
government under Buhari is yet to prosecute the perpetrators of these
great atrocities.In fact, instead of prosecuting the perpetrators,
Tyrant Buhari continued to give orders for further killing of the
followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. The recent killing is the attack
made by the Military and Nigerian Police during the annual Arbaeen
Symbolic Trek between 27th and 30th October, 2018 where more than 50
followers of Sheikh Zakzaky were killed in Abuja." He, however, stated
that the group would not relent in its demand for the unconditional
release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife.
