Shiites Demand Unconditional Release of Sheik Zakzaky

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria ( IMN ), are demanding for the unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky from detention without further delay.

In a statement issued by their spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, the Shiites kicked against the explanation given by the Department of State Services (DSS), that Zakzaky is in “protective custody” and being detained in his own volition, wondering why the same DSS has refused to grant him access to his legal team for some months now.

Sheik Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in DSS detention since December 12, 2015, following his arrest af­ter his members clashed with soldiers in Zaria, where several people lost their lives.

The statement also called on the Federal Government to re­lease Sheikh Zakzaky with­out any condition and without further delay, insisting that It is only Zakzaky’s release that will explain the mystery of him being in “protective custody.

“The Islamic Movement in Nigeria won’t accept this protective custody explanation of the DSS, since for some months now it has refused to grant the Sheikh access to his leading coun­sel, Mr. Femi Falana. For the submission of the DSS before the court to gain any merit, it should with all urgency allow the lawyers of Sheikh Zakza­ky to meet and talk to him.

“People with conscience all over the world were baf­fled, when on Tuesday 15th June, 2016 the Directorate of State Services, DSS men­tioned before a Federal High Court in Abuja that it is hold­ing the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, in pro­tective custody in order to fend him off from those who are hell bent on murdering him.

“That Directorate of State Services has also confirmed that Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat Ibraheem, were never handed over to the Police for any form of investigation or interroga­tion.

“But isn’t it ridiculous to detain an innocent Sheikh? Where in our books and the laws setting up that Directorate of State Services is it mentioned that a person who has not committed any offence and without any prima facie evidence links to the commission of an offence should be detained indefi­nitely? Indefinite detention and detention without trial are only associated with military regimes and not demo­cratic regimes.

“Secondly the DSS is ad­mitting there are some people in the corridors of power who want to extra judicially kill Sheikh Zakzaky, hence its giv­ing him “protective custody”. As a follow up question, why didn’t the DSS mention the name of those it is accusing of wanting to see the Sheikh dead? Are they sacred cows that the public would not be told their names? But it is pub­lic knowledge already that the GOC of One Mechanised Di­vision Kaduna gave the order on behalf of the Nigerian Army that a cordon and search op­eration be carried out in Zaria that ultimately led to many crimes against humanity. Is the DSS now telling the Na­tion that it is protecting Sheikh Zakzaky from the murderers in the Nigerian Army?

“It can be inferred also from the statement of the DSS before the court that all the allegations proffered by the army on why it carried out the massacre in Zaria are all false accusations”, the statement said.