Nigeria: Members of the Islamic Movement ask for Zakzaky’s unconditional release

by Abbas Adil

Members of the Islamic Movement In Nigeria, under the umbrella of Shi’ite Movement in the South West Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to release Mallam Ibrahim Elzakzaky without any condition attached.

The Shit’te members at a press conference in Ibadan, through their spokesperson and the South West Coordinator, , Mallam Muftau Zakariyah also demanded compensation for all the 2,000 Shi’ite members who were allegedly massacred during a clash with the military in Zaria recently as well as all the movement’s property that were destroyed.

According to Mallam Zakariyah, Shi’tte members “are innocent of all the allegations by the military,” saying, ”COAS is our  servant, he has no right to order the killing of our followers. We demand formal apology from the Nigerian Army. We demand Payment for all movement property that has been destroyed”.

Addressing the media amidst shouts of “Allahu Akbar” from the Shi’ite members from across the South west states that stormed Ibadan for the press conference, Zakariyah declared that his followers numbering millions
all over the country were not ready for any violence.

“We demand that Mallam Zakzaky be released unconditionally. We demand payment for all movement property that has been destroyed. We demand compensation for all two thousand that have been killed. We demand formal apology from the Nigerian army. Today it is Zakzaky, who will it be tomorrow?  This is the time to speak out,” he said.

Describing the military action on Shi’ite members as unjust, inhuman and crime against humanity, he alleged the Nigerian Army of being “the
prosecutor, the jury and the executioner”. He said the composition of the panel set up by the Kaduna state government on the matter was faulty,
saying, the likes of Chief Femi Falana, Professor Ishaq Akintola of the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and other human rights should have
been included for the panel to attract any credibility.

Mallam Zakariyah lamented that previous governments have been
unfair to the Movement for long adding “when Jonathan’s government exhausted all options that will postpone election in 2015, it killed three of ElZakzaky’s children in order to destabilize the country” and that during that time, top politicians in the country visited and commended Mallam Elzakzaky for his peaceful conduct.

He however lauded the human right activists that have spoken out such as Femi Falana (SAN), Professor Akintola, Femi Fani Kayode, Professor D. O. S. Noibi, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of SCIAN Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, Chairman Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni and NACOMYO Oyo State and other persons too numerous to mention.

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