The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on the federal government to free its Leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and halt the police brutality being shown its supporters during their free Zakzaky protests, especially in Abuja of recent.
This was made known to newsmen today in a press release signed by Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello Zaria, Chairman Shuhada Foundation of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
The press release was coming on the heels of the incessant attack by the police on the supporters of the Islamic Movement since Monday whenever they embark upon their free Zakzaky protest in Abuja.
“As of now, 15 seriously injured people, some of whom we took to Abuja University teaching hospital Gwagwalada, but the police snatched them by force on Monday 22/07/19 are languishing in the detention Centre of SARS, in Abbatoir Abuja, without any medical care. Among them are five women needing urgent medical attention. There is a ten year old boy in the detention facility, even though he has a bullet wound on his leg. In fact we learnt that two of the injured died yesterday because of their injuries. We demand that the authorities of SARS give us access to the wounded, so that we can attend to their medical needs,” the statement added.
“The security agencies are working hard to portray the Islamic Movement in Nigeria as a terrorist organization that is why they have started killing people in our name including our supporters. We decry such shameless play with people’s lives with reckless abandon.”
BELOW IS THE FULL PRESS STATEMENT:
Stop police brutality, free Sheikh Zakzaky
We deemed it necessary to update the general public and the international community on the disproportionate use of force on supporters of the Islamic Movement by the Nigerian police that was renewed since Monday 22/07/2019.
Yesterday we were able to conduct the Islamic funeral prayers on six of those known to us killed by the police. We firmly believe the police force is holding unto 15 corpses of the supporters of the Islamic Movement it killed on Monday.
Those buried yesterday are: 1. Harisu Ibrahim Magaji from Darazo, Bauchi state. 2. Husaini Yahya Barwa from Soba, Kaduna state. 3. Ali Haidar Ibrahim Sulaiman from Toro, Bauchi state. 4. Dahiru Dogo from Kaduna, Kaduna state. 5. Batula Muhammad from Suleja, Niger state. 6. Abubakar Isma’il from Yola, Adamawa state.
As of now, 15 seriously injured people, some of whom we took to Abuja University teaching hospital Gwagwalada, but the police snatched them by force on Monday 22/07/19 are languishing in the detention Centre of SARS, in Abbatoir Abuja, without any medical care. Among them are five women needing urgent medical attention. There is a ten year old boy in the detention facility, even though he has a bullet wound on his leg. In fact we learnt that two of the injured died yesterday because of their injuries. We demand that the authorities of SARS give us access to the wounded, so that we can attend to their medical needs.
Yesterday 23/07/19, we gathered at Banex Plaza to once again continue with our peaceful procession demanding the freedom of our Leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, but a joint task force of security agents stormed the place in combat gear. They fired tear gas and live ammunition resulting in injuries to a lot of our supporters, with one unconfirmed report saying one person died of his injuries.
The security agencies are working hard to portray the Islamic Movement in Nigeria as a terrorist organization that is why they have started killing people in our name including our supporters. We decry such shameless play with people’s lives with reckless abandon.
We welcome any move to the peaceful resolution of this crisis that has kept our Leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in detention since 2015, even when a federal high court has ordered for his release.
However it seems some hawks in the Buhari administration are bent on using all the force at their disposal, in stopping our march for the demand of justice. For their information forceful means have never been a solution to any social demand for justice like our own.
We urge the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to mount pressure on the federal government to release our leader, who is in dire need of urgent medical attention abroad.
And as we commiserate with the friends and families of those needlessly killed by this police brutality, in particular, our heartfelt condolences to the slain officer’s and the journalist’s families and the Channels Television as well, we believe the presidency was shedding crocodile tears, since it is the cause and executor of it all in the first place.
SIGNED BY
SHEIKH ABDULHAMID BELLO ZARIA
24/07/2019