Access to Justice (A2J) has condemned the attack on Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiite Sect) in Zaria.

El Zakzaky and his group were allegedly attacked on Saturday 12th December, 2015 by a detachment of the Nigerian Army accompanying the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

The attacks were reported to have claimed several lives whose exact number is not yet known. The day following the attacks, the Nigerian Army officers proceeded to raid the residence of Sheik Ibrahim and, in the process, reportedly injured or killed other citizens and destroyed properties.

According to a statement signed by a member of the group, Mrs. Precious Kelechi, AJ has written a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asking for full investigation into the incident.

“We urge the NHRC to conduct these inquiries as thoroughly and impartially as possible and request that the inquiry be open to the public. We also request that the NHRC also investigates the killing of Shi’ites in 2014 by officers of the Nigerian Army.

“Nigeria’s international obligations to undertake investigations into allegations of extra-judicial killings without a doubt, require such investigations to be prompt, credible, effective, impartial and independent. Article 9 of The United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions also provide that: “There shall be thorough, prompt and impartial investigation of all suspected cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions, including cases where complaints by relatives or other reliable reports suggest unnatural death in the above circumstances”, the group stated.

The group said it will be difficult to conduct an investigation or hold officers responsible while the people who ordered and shot the Islamic Movement protesters are still in office.

“While we are not unmindful of the fact that Nigeria is engaged in a long-drawn war with Boko Haram, we nevertheless think it will be more helpful if the Federal government requests, or the Chief of Army Staff on his own volition, steps aside for the period of the investigation. This will create a better environment for a credible, more impartial, unimpeded investigation to take place and prevent, to some degree, interference or obstruction with it”, it declared.

AJ also condemned the subsequent arrest and detention of the leader of the Islamic Shi’ite sect, his spouse and other members of the Sect.

The statement reads: “These arrests are further provocative, illegal and unconstitutional. The army has no powers to hold civilians in “protective custody” against their will or consent. The Nigerian Army should immediately release those arrested and lift its siege of the premises and houses of the sect.”