Shiites Take Protest To UN For El-Zakzaky

The Shiites have taken their protest to the United Nations office in Abuja, Channels Television has reported.

Faithfuls of the sect otherwise known as  the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) want the United Nations to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to release their leader Sheikh El-Zakzaky who is standing trial alongside his wife over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among others.

They also accuse the government of mass killings and burials of their members.

The protesters were received at the UN office by the deputy security head.

Thursday’s protest comes after a similar march was staged on Wednesday at the main gate of the National Assembly.

However, Wednesday’s protest had a bit of violent undertone, as the Shiites forced their way into the Assembly complex, protesting the continued incarceration of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

The protesting Shiites stormed the National Assembly in continuation of protests to mark the 68th birthday anniversary of Sheikh Zakzaky, their spiritual leader.

At the gate, the Shiite faithful could be heard chanting and calling for the release of Zakzaky who has been in detention since 2015.

In a sudden fit of rage, the Shiites pounced on the Assembly’s gate, forcing their way into the complex.

They, however, were stopped from getting into the chambers after various appeals by leaders of the movement.

Speaking at the rally, Abdullahi Musa, who described himself as a follower of the detained Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, told PREMIUM TIMES that the group crashed into the gate after security personnel at the entrance said no one would come out to address them.

He also accused the Federal Government of plotting to kill Mr El-Zakzaky.

“When we got here, the police tried to play with our intelligence and that nobody will talk to us. That is why we broke the gate to get ourselves in. They now started pleading with us and sent someone to address us.

“The Sheikh is seriously sick and is currently in Kaduna. They are charging him with some senseless offences.

“The court in Kaduna has ordered the government to allow him to see his doctor. Even some international doctors were on the ground three days ago but some elements in the security are trying to frustrate the efforts of the doctors,” he said.