Shiites leader, Zakazzy after the clash
Nigeria: 2-Years On, Shiites-Govt. Crisis Festers
It is two years now after the Nigerian army had a clash with an Islamic sect, the Shiites in the northern Nigeria.
The sect’s leader Sheikh Zakzaky was captured, brutalized and has been in detention.
The Shiites has also alleged mass killing and burial of its members by the army.
Today in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, the Shiites under the auspices of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have demanded for the exhumation of their members allegedly maimed, killed during the Nigerian Army-Shiites clash in Zaria and buried in mass grave in Kaduna, North Central Nigeria.
A member of Free Zakzaky campaign committee, Abdulhamid Bello, made the call at a press conference in Kaduna.
Speaking on “Two Years Horrendous Zaria Massacre And The Continued Detention of Sheikh Zakzaky”, Bello said the need to exhume its members who were killed by the army was for them to proper identify and bury them in accordance with Islamic rites.
“It is unfortunate that in the last two years, the Islamic Movement has continued to be persecuted and denied our religious rights.
“But we have compiled a detail report of everything that happened and submitted to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. They have since announced that they have opened preliminary into the matter.
“We call on the international community, especially the United Nations, European Union, African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the ICC to add more pressure on the government to live up to its responsibilities with regards to the issue of Islamic Movement and Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in particular or be convicted,” he said.
The Shiites man, Bello, therefore, demanded the immediate release of their leader, Zakzaky, his wife and other members who, according to him, were unlawfully detained.
“All those responsible for the planning or execution of attacks on us and our property must be brought to book, irrespective of their status,” he added.