Police attack Shiites members during Free Zakzaky campaign in Kaduna and Sokoto states. Credit/Premium Times Nigeria
Shiites Abuja Protest: One feared killed, dozens injured, many arrested
Fanala urges protesters to continue
At least one person was killed and over 30 injured as protesting Shiites were dispersed by security operatives in Abuja on Monday, the Islamic group has stated.
The Shiites spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, told newsmen the victim was yet to be identified as “the protesters came from various towns.”
Mr Mohammed also stated that over 200 protesters were arrested by the police, who he accused of being the first to attack the protesters.
“We were carrying out a peaceful protest starting from the Unity Fountain. All of a sudden, they began to attack us. They were the ones who started firing (at) us with teargas.
“We were not violent in our procession but we had to defend ourselves somehow and that was why we attacked back.
“So far, we’ve been able to confirm about 200 persons arrested, over 30 injured and one person is dead,” he said via telephone.
Meanwhile, senior lawyer, Femi Fanala (SAN) has urged the Shiites to continue with their protest until their leader Sheik Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky is released from detention by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Falana, who addressed members of the sect during a rally in Abuja yesterday, said: “I am impressed with your courageous and peaceful protest. Your action is justified under the Constitution, which guaranteed the fundamental rights of every citizen to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Your action is legitimate because it is a protest against impunity arising from the executive lawlessness of the Federal Government. Your demand is in order because it is in line with the tenets of the rule of law. Please keep it up”, he said.
The protesters took to the Unity Fountain, beside Transcorp Hotel to demand the release of the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been detained without trial for over two years.
The Nigerian government has kept the Shiite leader in custody since 2015 when his group had an encounter with a convoy of the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, leading to the massacre of about 300 Shiite members, including Mr El-Zakzaky’s sons.
Several security officers from the army, police as well as civil defence on Monday forcefully dispersed the protesters as eyewitnesses said the officers fired teargas and gun shots into the air.
Videos and footages have also been released by eyewitnesses showing the dispersal of the protesters and some of them throwing stones at police vehicles.
Monday’s action came a few days after the the Abuja police commissioner, Sadiq Bello, placed an indefinite ban on daily sit-outs at Unity Fountain by pro-democracy and good governance advocates across Abuja, a move that was condemned by activists.
Mr Bello said he took the decision because he sees the groups, including the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ movement, as public “nuisance.”
“All of them are in the same category, they’re disrupting people’s activities and infringing on their human rights by blocking the roads and other things. They’re constituting a nuisance”, the Police Commissioner said.
The Shiites spokesperson, however, vowed not to relent until their leader is released.
“We are demanding the release of our leader and we are going to continue our peaceful protest. If they attack us, no problem. We will continue with our protest. Tomorrow, insha Allah, we are coming out to continue the protest,” he said.
When contacted, the Abuja police spokesperson, Manzah Anjuguri, said the police would soon release a statement on the incident.
Falana added: “When we were fighting for the restoration of democratic rule under brutal military dictators, I never thought that court orders were going to be treated with disdain by elected governments. It is particularly painful for me that court orders are disobeyed under the current political dispensation, whereas under the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders for the release of victims of the obnoxious Decree No 2 of 1984 were complied with.
“I urge you and other lovers of democracy not to allow the Buhari administration disobey the judgments of competent courts. As you know, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice G. O. Kolawole, ordered Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky’s release, and his wife, and awarded them N50 million damages. Since the Army and the Nasir El-Rufai regime demolished and burnt their home on December 15, 2015, the court ordered the government to provide them with a suitable accommodation. Those orders which were granted on December 2, 2016 have been ignored by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which claims to operate under the Rule of Law.
“Having been subjected to illegal arrest and detention, I can imagine the mental and psychological agony the El-Zakzakys’ are going through in the illegal custody of the State Security Service (SSS). It is an irony that President Buhari is in charge of a civilian government that is detaining people without trial.
“I laud you for your resolute and principled determination to secure the release of your leaders and others. Please continue the protests until you succeed in compelling the government to comply with court orders.”