Again, Shi’ites Members Take Over Abuja Streets, Demand Release of Leader

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Wednesday, took to the streets of Abuja again to demand for the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Yaqub El-Zakzaky who is being held in state’s custody since 2015.

Hundreds of members of the group including women and children protest on the streets with placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Buhari release Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky”, “Shaikh Zakzaky must be released” among others.

Members of the group were queued in an orderly manner on the street to avoid causing heavy traffic gridlock while armed mobile policemen were following them from behind to prevent breakdown of law and order.

According to the statement signed by the Leader of the Youth Wing of the Group also known as Hurras, Yaqub Idris, the demonstration was organized to demand for the release of their leader.

“We peacefully march on this day Wednesday the 2nd of May 2018 to further press for the immediate and unconditional release of our leader and simultaneously mark the birthday of Imam Mahdi (AS) and the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqub El-Zakzaky.

“It could be recalled that the Buhari administration killed over 1,000 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in the year 2015 alone,” he said.

The group alleged that various kind of tyrannical measure beyond description have been directed against the IMN by the APC-led administration.

The statement cited example of what happened between the group and the security agents at Human Rights Office in Abuja recently.

Yaqub said despite alleged continuous extra-judicial and arbitrary killings, detention and torture, the youth wing of the group stand steadfast to the teaching of their leader.

He said continuous alleged persecution, suppression and intimidation would not deter them in continuing the struggle for justice in the nation and Zaria in particular.

The group said that they would not forget the alleged atrocities as history records every part of the event.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to obey the laws of the land to immediately release their leader, his wife Malam Zeenatu and those who were arrested during Zaria incident in 2015.