Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shiites, on Monday in Kaduna protest the five years remembrance of their clash with soldiers in Zaria, which they called ‘massacre’ and continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife Malama Zeenatuddin Ibrahim.
The members including Children, between the ages of 10 and above with adults, marched through Kano road in the Kaduna metropolis.
They displayed posters of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and chanted continuously: “Free our leader”; “Free Zakzaky”; “We want justice” and “He needs to go for medical treatment.”
Leader of the protesters, Sheikh Aliyu Tirmizi, urged the Federal Government to unconditionally release the leader of the sect to enable him get proper medical attention.
He said: “In the aftermath of Zaria genocide executed by the Nigerian military in December 2015, we have been calling on all citizens to uphold the dictum that injustice to one is injustice to all, but to no avail.”
“Most people, after the gross flagrant abuse of power by the military on Sheikh Zakzaky and his followers, could not express their condemnation, choosing to remain silent since the military excesses didn’t affect them directly.
“But in truth, Islam abhors injustice and enjoins Muslims to express disdain to injustice and the unjust, whoever they are.
“Indeed, history is full of instances when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) assisted victims of injustice in upholding their rights. This explains why, for the past five years, we have been explaining how this Muhammadu Buhari regime has trampled upon the rights of Sheikh Zakzaky and his followers.
“We are demanding that citizens condemn this repression and call for the release of our leader unconditionally.”
