Shiites hold peaceful march in Kaduna to debunk the view that they are a terrorist sect

SHIITE group the Islamic Movement of Nigeria held a peaceful demonstration in Kaduna yesterday as part of a campaign to debunk stories that it was a violent and terrorist organisation following its recent clash with the Nigerian military in Zaria.

 

In December, dozens of members of the sect were shot dead in Zaria in a clash with the Nigerian Army, who claimed they planned to assassinate the chief of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai. On December 12, last year, troops in General Buratai security detail opened fire on members of the sect in Zaria after they refused to let him pass along a highway to a function.

 

Since the incident, the sect's leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has been held in custody and it is believed that his wife Zeenat and his son Aliyu were shot while he was being arrested. Yesterday, his followers called on the government to release Sheikh El-Zakzaky without charge.

 

The protesters, who were mostly students, said it is pathetic that contrary to the Nigerian constitution which says nobody can be detained for more than 24 hours without being charged to the court, Sheik El-Zakzaky had been in custody for over 50 days. Mikaeel Yusuf, the leader of the protest, added that following the alleged military assault on the residence of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and two of their centres, 730 of their members have been missing while 220 are in Kaduna Prison, amongst them women and students.

 

Mr Yusuf said: “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."

 

In addition, the group also queried the rationale behind the heavy crackdown on their peaceful dissension by the government. Yakubu Yahaya, the movement’s interim leader, declared that the sect was not a terrorist organisation, insisting that its members have no weapons.

 

Mr 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 the Kaduna State government, faulting the composition of the committee.

 

According to Mr Yahaya, they need members of human rights bodies to be included on the committee and their sect would also only consider honouring the committee if Sheikh El-Zakzaki is released. He listed other conditions which must be fulfilled before the movement appears to include the unconditional release of its members, the payment of compensation and the release of the corpses of those killed during the Zaria clash.