Away from freedom, away from their family and away from justice; the ailing leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife have now clocked 2000 days in illegal detention.
Under the pretense of mounting road block on the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd) the Sheikh was attacked in his residence – several kilometers away from the position of the ‘alleged road blockage’ where hundreds of defenseless citizens were killed in cold blood.
The Sheikh and his wife were shot at a very close range, thereby sustaining serious injuries of varying degrees, before being dragged over the dead bodies of their three biological children who were extrajudicially killed before their eyes.
The couple, arrested since December 2015, have been in the custody of State Security Services and held incommunicado, before being moved to Kaduna correctional facility despite their deteriorating health condition.
The Sheikh is still suffering from various life-threatening health conditions. For instance, he reportedly suffered from a stroke the aftermath of which he still feels till date. The story is not different for his wife Zeenah Ibraheem, who is now reportedly confined to wheelchair as she can no longer walk.
All these were as a result of the refusal to offer adequate medical attention to the couple in the detention facilities (in both DSS custody and KDCP). It could be recalled that in 2019, they were flown abroad to seek medical attention, but had to abort the trip without being treated.
In truth, there is no justification, whatsoever, for the continued detention of the Sheikh and his wife. It is a clear violation of their every right as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria; the right to life, right to personal liberty, right to dignity of human person, etc.
There have been numerous calls from clergymen and people of conscience, well-meaning Nigerians, international human right organizations, and peace-loving individuals across the globe; peaceful protests within and outside the country urging the Nigerian government to release the Sheikh and his wife.
It could also be recalled that In December 2016 a Federal High court sitting in Abuja ruled that the detention of the Sheikh and his wife is “illegal and unconstitutional” and therefore ordered their release immediately and unconditionally, failure which, according to the learned judge Gabriel Kolawole, would be a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
The Nigerian government, however, refused to comply with the court order till now. It chooses the law to obey. Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife ought to have been released as per the order of a competent court of land.
It is now six years since their illegal detention and whether the government will do the needful- to at least allow the ailing Sheikh and his wife proper access to medical attention, remains to be seen; but one thing is certain: Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are oppressed, innocent, peace loving individuals; and therefore seeking their freedom is a moral duty to every individual with shreds of humanity.
Najeeb Maigatari wrote from Jigawa State via Maigatari313@gmail.com
