Shiites killing: Timi Frank seeks UN, USA intervention

IMMEDIATE past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has demanded an international judicial commission of inquiry into the recent loss of lives, arising from the face-off between protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and the Nigerian military.

There has been sustained protests in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by members of the sect, demanding for the immediate release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-ZakZaky who has been incarcerated since 2015, despite courts pronouncements for his release.

Clashes between the sect and the military during the week has led to casualties on both sides.

But Frank in open letter to the Secretary/General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, asked for the intervention of the world body to stem the loss of lives which he noted was unwarranted.

The PDP chieftain who accused the military of downplaying the casualty figure, further noted that only the United Nations have the capacity to unearth the true extent of the extra-judicial murders committed by the military against free citizens.

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The letter, copies of which were sent to the United State of America (USA), British High Commission, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, France and Germany through their embassies in Nigeria read in part: ‘’

“Reports say over 400 were arrested and being detained by the police. While exact casualty and fatalities figures are unavailable at this time, I believe that a high-powered inquiry into the incident by the UN would reveal the true extent of the extra-judicial murders committed by the military against free citizens.

“Therefore, I call on you to use your good offices to ensure that the incidents are investigated and the army and by extension, the Buhari administration held to account for the gruesome violation of its citizens’ rights to life and peaceful assembly.

‘’The extra-judicial killing of the Shiites members negates all known UN statutes, protocols and resolutions. I urge you to ensure that these violations are not wished away by the Nigerian government over claims by the military authorities that they only responded to undue provocation by the sect. The use of live ammunition against innocent protesters constitute a crime against humanity which must not be glossed over by the United Nations and other human rights watchdogs across the world.

“To show the level of complicity of the government in Nigeria, the presidency has neither condemned the use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters nor announced any containment measures to prevent its escalation. One thing is clear and I want the UN to take notice of it. The Nigeria government has continued to kill Christians and Shia members unprovoked and unchallenged.

“The UN can stop this ongoing madness by invoking its relevant protocols that punish crimes against humanity and genocide. It is lamentable to note that the Nigerian government under the present dispensation has since abdicated their primary responsibility which is the security and welfare of the citizens. A situation where security forces willfully shoot and kill unarmed Nigerians on a peaceful demonstration shows that state agents are being illegally used to unleash unimaginable terror against Nigerians. I dare say that no President in the history of Nigeria has hated its people as President Muhammadu Buhari has done. No President has ordered and supervised the killing of its citizens from IPOB to Christians and now Shi’ites like President Muhammadu Buhari. This must stop!

“I hereby call on you to urgently constitute an International Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the unfortunate massacre of members of the IMN – protesting the illegal detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-ZakZaky – in the last few days.”