Court frees 100 Shiites held over clash with soldiers

Islamic group demands El-Zakzaky’s release
The Kaduna State High Court has ordered the release of 100 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who were arrested following the bloody clash between them and soldiers in December 2015.

They were discharged and acquitted following a no-case submission filed by their counsel.

However, a statement issued by the President, Media Forum of IMN, Malam Ibrahim Musa, said: “This judgment has not only vindicated the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, but it is certainly a victory for perseverance in the face of extreme persecution. It is a victory for truth and justice against tyranny and impunity.”

Musa, who reiterated the call by the group for the release of its leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, said: “We are all aware of the crude tactics of the Kaduna State government led by Malam Nasir El-Rufai all in his devilish plots at perpetuating the persecution against the Islamic Movement and the continued detention incommunicado of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his ailing wife in spite of previous court judgment ordering their immediate release from detention thereby further flouting their fundamental rights to liberty.

“With this victory in court today, the false charges filed against them of aiding and abetting the culpable homicide have been punctured for good.

“We await the response of the Kaduna State government as Sheikh Zakzaky’s case comes up in the next two days. We expect them to respect the judgment of this court and the course of justice to withdraw the fake charges against him and release him with immediate effect.”

As a peaceful Movement, he declared: “We have kept to our clean tradition of seeking redress through peaceful means without any resort to violence despite deliberate and persistent provocations by the government. Today, Kaduna State government has again failed in court after a fair trial.

“We wish to use this opportunity to also say a big thank you to all people of conscience, human rights activists and organisations, journalists and all those that joined in our dogged campaign for justice for the victims of Zaria genocide.”