By Kemi Yesufu and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Shiites, also known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, (IMN), yesterday, protested at the entrance of National Assembly, over the continued detention of the founder of their organisation, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Leader of the protest, Abdullahi Musa, told journalists that the group felt it was necessary to stage another protest as several letters submitted to the National Assembly “had been ignored” even as their leader has not been released from detention.
Musa, who criticised the silence from lawmakers on El-Zakzaky’s continued detention claimed that “IMN members were recently killed in Kano but government and the National Assembly failed to react to both situations”
Members of the MNI have thrice protested in Abuja.
The first was on Wednesday, November 2 and Tuesday November 22 while the third was yesterday.
The November 22 protest was cut short when IMN members clashed with policemen stationed around the Federal Ministry of Justice, who threw tear-gas to disperse the crowd.
“This is the third time we are coming here. We submitted a lot of documents to the National Assembly but, we are yet to get any response.
“We submitted the third batch of documents, yesterday, and we came here today (Thursday, December 1) to hear from them.” He further stated that IMN members, none of whom have seen El-Zakzaky since he was arrested, know the state of his health.
He specifically accused the Federal Government of ill treating El-Zakzaky and demanded his release “in order for him to have access to better healthcare.
“We do not believe in the so -called protective custody. We want him freed so that he can go for treatment. They have inflicted several injuries on him. What we ask for is that justice prevails,” Musa added.