By Deborah Onyofufeke, Abuja
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed to its request and unconditionally release its detained brothers and remove the travel ban placed on its leader, Sheik Ibraheem Ya’qoub Zakzaky and wife.
The Islamic movement made this call at a press briefing on Saturday in Abuja where its Senior Member, Professor Shehu Ahmad Maigandi said it’s members have suffered persecution, maltreatment and brutality in the hands of the Nigerian state against its leader Sheik Zakzaky
He added that Sheik Zakzaky has suffered grave human rights violations under previous governments and requested that president Tinubu’s administration should make it all come to an end by looking into their plight and granting their request.
He said the Press Conference “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 (H), his family, and followers by the previous governments of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
He added that “The public may recall that on March 16, 2013, during the 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. Ten years on, the three brothers have been under detention unjustly and in violation of their fundamental human rights as citizens of Nigeria.
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“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.
Maigandi alleged that the Nigerian Army on July 25, 2014 killed 34 members of their group while on a peaceful procession in Zaria including three sons of their leader, El-Zakzaky and another 1000 persons between the 12th and 14th December 2015 saying that those responsible are yet to be prosecuted.
He went on to add that the victims from the alleged onslaught were illegally buried in mass and shallow graves at Mando Village in Kaduna town, by the Buhari regime as confirmed by the Kaduna state government.
He said it was this operation which took place in 2015 that led to their leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah, being illegally arrested and detained.
He also said that the government ignored the Justice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court, Abuja division whohad ordered the unconditional release of the duo and his continued detention led to the Free-Zakzaky protests in Abuja between January 2018 and July 2021.
“It is on record that from 2018 to 2021, Police and the Nigerian Army killed seventy-eight (78) Free Zakzaky protesters, 2 journalists, and numerous passersby (Abuja residents) in Abuja, with over 50 Free Zakzaky protesters under detention since July 2019, and their court cases have been unnecessarily delayed.” he said
Maigandi further said the Kaduna State High Court in 2019 ordered that Both Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife he allowed to leave for India to receive medical care but the Nigerian Government confiscated their travel documents.
“During the medical trip to India, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS) confiscated the couple’s travel documents. The seizure of the passports was done illegally because medical leave granted by the Kaduna State High Court did not require the security agents to confiscate their travel documents and directed the Nigeria Immigration Service not to issue another international passport to the couple.” he added.
He noted that in view of all the has happened, the movement is demanding for the following.
“Unconditionally release of the trio of Malam Haruna Abbas, Malam Ibrahim Hussaini and Malam Adamu Suleiman who have been in questionable detention since 2013.
“The prosecution of perpetrators of the killing of three biological sons of Sheikh Zakzaky and 31 others on July 204.
“Unconditionally release of Malam Hassan Muhammad and other brothers being detained in various detention facilities illegally without trial.
“The investigation and prosecutor the mastermind and executors of the Zaria Massacre in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian law and relevant international conventions.
“The unconditional release of Free Zakzaky protesters, Ibrahim Khalid and 49 others who have been detained since July 22,2019.
“Removal of the travel ban on Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife as well as unconditional release of their travel documents”.
