Islamic Movement tasks Tinubu to release detained members

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release ‘Free Zakzaky protesters’, Ibrahim Khalid and 49 others, who have been detained since 2019, unconditionally.

The group also asked the President to lift the travel ban placed on their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife.

Member of the group, Prof. Shehu Ahmad Maigandi, stated spoke Saturday in Abuja at the press briefing.

He said that the former President Muhammadu Buhari government directed the Nigeria Immigration Service not to issue another international passport to the couple after the judgement of the Kaduna State High Court that discharged and acquitted Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.

He recalled that military assaulted members of the Islamic Movement in December 2015, leading to the massacre of over 1000 people, including men, women, students and children.

Maigandi said: “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria regarding the persecution, maltreatment and brutality of the Nigerian state against its leader, Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky, his family and followers across the country in the past 10 years.

“It is meant to remind the general public and particularly, the newly sworn-in government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the grave human rights violations against the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, His Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky, his family and followers by the previous governments of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

“The public may recall that on March 16 2013, during Jonathan’s regime, the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested our brother, Malam Haruna Abbas at Aminu Kano International Airport upon his return from a foreign trip. Two other brothers, Ibrahim Hussaini and Adamu Suleiman were also arrested at their respective residences fictitiously.

“Over 10 years on, the three brothers have been under detention unjustly and in violation of their fundamental human rights as citizens of Nigeria. In a similar fashion, on November 18, 2015, the Police arrested our brother Hassan Muhammad at his residence in Maigana Town, Kaduna state, and since then, Malam Hassan has been under illegal detention.”

He further said that the action was uncivilized act of state brutality on its citizens was carried out under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He added: “The onslaught was carried out nonstop for two consecutive days, from the 12th to 14th of December, 2015 across three locations of Hussainiyah Islamic Center, Darul Rahmah Cemetery and the residence of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky all in the ancient city of Zaria.

“The victims of the onslaught were also illegally buried in mass and shallow graves at Mando Village in Kaduna town, by the Buhari regime as confirmed by the Kaduna state government. This act of mass graves is reminiscent of a war crime, was in violation of the Geneva Convention and the relevant laws of Nigeria.

“In addition to these heinous crimes, many others were illegally arrested and detained in unknown locations. At present, there are numerous followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in various detention facilities unknown to their families and loved ones.”