Shiites Protest in Kaduna, Demand Release of El-Zakzaky

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Thousands of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria ( IMN ), also known as Shiites, on Wednesday staged a peaceful procession in Kaduna, demanding for the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who has been in detention since December last year following the clash between the group and the Nigerian Army in Zaria.

The peaceful procession, which has become a regular activity among members of the Islamic group in Kaduna and other states in the north, led to serious traffic gridlock along busy Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna, with motorists diverting to other routes.

The Shiite members were accompanied by the police to avoid any clash and breach to peace.

Security personnel were also deployed to strategic places to ensure that the members of the Islamic group were restricted to specific areas.

Members of the sect who were dressed in their usual black attires were carrying placards and chanting “free El-Zakzaky” as well as justice for many of their members allegedly killed by the the army during the Zaria clash.

A commission of inquiry set up by the Kaduna state government to investigate the clash, had in its report, blamed Zakzaky for the incident and recommended that he be investigated and prosecuted.

The Shiite had rejected the the recommendations of the judicial panel, describing it as absurd.
Wednesday’s procession which lasted for about two hours went on peacefully without any breach to peace.

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