Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have charged the Buhari-led federal government to as a matter of urgency release the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The call came after members
The group latest protest took another dimension yesterday as they were accused of shooting and injuring security officials who held them back from entering NASS premises.
In order to prevent such reoccurrence at the National Assembly, the minority leader, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, filed a motion calling on his colleagues to investigate the matter and ensure adequate security measures are in place at the legislative chamber.
Some of his colleagues, who supported his motion, argued that the circumstances surrounding the matter are similar to what led to the emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
“If the court has given an order for the release of the man,
Supporting Onofiok, Bamidele Salam from Osun state said El-Zakzaky’s continued detention is injustice and “injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
His words, “I want to urge the federal government to look into the matter of the leader of this movement and allow the rule of law to take its course.
“If we are able to secure the national assembly, what happens to the man and woman in the market elsewhere?”
Simon Davou from Plateau state said rather than detain el-Zakzaky against court orders, the government should release him and ensure surveillance, with enough security operatives to monitor his activities.”
Recall that El-Zakzaky was detained following the alleged death of a soldier who died during the December 2015 clash with soldiers and his supporters, (Shiite group).
His supporters were accused of blocking a major road that was to be used by the army chief Tukur Buratai.
However, despite several courts granting him bail, the government has insisted on detaining him. In view of that, therefore, his followers have embarked on several protests, demanding his immediate release.