See what Shiites did in Kaduna to protest El-Zakzaky’s detention (photos)

– Reactions trail the detention of  Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, his wife and other members

– Protesters vow never to rest until their leader and others are freed

Report credited to The Punch has it that a massive protest was carried out today, Thursday, March 31, in Kaduna state, as Shiites members under the aegis of the Academic Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, thronged the streets to protest the prolonged detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the movement.

The Hundreds of Shiites protesters gathered at the ever busy Leventis roundabout in the Kaduna metropolis, urging the Army authority and the federal government to release the leader, his wife, and other members of the sect in detention.

El-Zakzaky, his wife and several members of the movement have been detained since December 2015 when they clashed with the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna state.

READ ALSO: Army Would Not Tolerate Acts Of Impunity – Buratai

However, the protesting members vowed not to rest until their leader and others are freed.

Speaking at the protest, Dr. Abudllahi Ibrahim, the president of the Academic Forum of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, said: “We are echoing our demand that our leader Sheik Zakzaky, his wife Zeenatu and all others members of the movement who are now languishing in different prisons and Army Barracks nationwide be released.”

However, the protesters dispersed and left for their respective homes just before the Kaduna state command of the Nigeria police force could know that they were protesting without a permit,

According to Abubakar Zubairu,  the Kaduna State police command’s public relations officer and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, the Shiites dispersed on their own before the arrival of his men at the rally ground.

He said: “Our men (police) have taken over the place to stop further use of the place by the Shiites. If our men had arrived there early enough, we would have stopped the rally. The Shiites left the Roundabout before the police arrived.”

However, the Shiites said in a statement shortly after the rally that the Movement will continue to protest or demand for the release of their leader.

READ ALSO: Shiite Members Raise Alarm Over Renewed Clampdown

On Saturday, December 12, a road, which is the only artery out of Zaria, Kaduna state, towards Sokoto state, was reportedly obstructed by the Shiites. Lt. General Buratai the army chief’s convoy came down to negotiate a passage, but was unsuccessful.

The army claim that Lt. General Buratai himself then alighted from his vehicle to negotiate passage, and this was when the alleged stoning and murder attempt began.

It was when Buratai was allegedly hit that his security detail began shooting in the air to disperse the Shiites.

Later reports suggested that over the following two days, the army attacked Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Shiites, at his residence.

Sources say there were gunshots and explosions through the day and night, and by the end of Sunday, December 13, reports came through that Muhammad Turi, Zakzaky’s deputy, had been killed. Also reported were the deaths of Zakzaky, his wife, a son, and some other senior members of the group were detained by the army.

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