THE Islamic Movement of Nigeria IMN, otherwise called Shiites have expressed displeasure over what it described as the silence of the European Union (EU) on the continued detention of their leader Mallam Ibraheem El Zakzaky by the Nigerian government and the killings of their members by the Nigerian Army.
In a statement signed by one of its leaders, Engr Abdullahi Muhammad Musa, the group narrated its ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian government and the security agencies in the past years.
The statement read “While marking one year of Daily-Free-Zakzaky protest in Abuja, I want to remind the public about Zaria massacre and unlawful detention of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and his wife as well as to express our sadness concerning the silence of the European Union on the matter.
“I am to further remind the public and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, who is the Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS that following the unfortunate massacre of brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of his Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), unlawful detention of Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), arrest of hundreds of other brothers and sisters, destruction of properties, perpetrated by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, the only response we received from the Buhari-led administration is reckless killing of Free-Zakzaky protesters.
“The grave atrocities committed by the Nigerian Army during December 2015 Zaria massacre led to hundreds of children being orphaned; many husbands and wives widowed and scores of Sheikh Zakzaky’s disciples are still languishing in prisons with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Sheikh Zakzaky has been in illegal detention for more than three years now, in spite of his deteriorating health conditions without proper medical treatment and despite the fact that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered for his immediate and unconditional release since December 2, 2016.
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“Zaria pogrom has been well covered by journalists and human rights organizations. Several human rights organizations around the globe including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Islamic Human Rights Commission have condemned the extra-judicial killings of Sheikh Zakzakys followers perpetrated by the Nigerian government. Likewise, the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) of July 2016 constituted by Kaduna State Government recommended the prosecution of the perpetrators of Zaria massacre.
“The health of the Sheikh Zakzaky (H) further deteriorated in the first week of January 2018; the situation triggers massive protest across the country and daily protest in Abuja. Despite the Court judgement that ordered for the unconditional release of the Sheikh, the response we received from the Buhari-led government during the protests is the further killing of the protesters. The daily protest in Abuja started on 8 January 2018 and from that time to-date, the Nigerian Army and the Police have so far killed 52 protesters including the 50 protesters killed on 27 – 30 October 2018”.
The statement, however, noted “with respect to the role of EU in promoting human rights, the deafening silence of relevant organs of the EU on the unlawful detention of Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and killings of his followers is annoying.
“In view of the foregoing, we are reminding the European Union that youths, researchers and the public are observing and studying the silence and inaction of the UN on Zaria massacre and unlawful detention of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H). Verily history will do justice to your performance”.
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