The House of Representatives committee on national security and intelligence would intervene in the release of leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzakky. The committee, chaired by Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, took the decision after meeting with members of the sect yesterday in Abuja.
A source at the close-door meeting said that during the meeting, members of the movement demanded the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the killings of their members in Zaria on December 12 and 13, 2015 by soldiers. The source also added that the movement also demanded for the unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzakky and his wife who have been in custody since their arrests.
Members of the movement made the demands when they appeared before an Ah-Hoc committee setup by the House of Representatives to investigate the deadly clash between the Shiite followers and military men. It was also gathered that the sect members have demanded for the corpses of their brother and sisters for proper Islamic burial as well as the release of the injured ones for medical attention, even as they alleged that hundreds of their members are currently being detained in Kaduna Prison without trial.
The source revealed that the movement’s members told the committee that the killings were premeditated based on the way and manner they were carried out and sustained for more than 48 hours. The source also added that sect members alleged that apart from killing scores of the sect members and destroying their Zaria shrine, soldiers also went to Dema village where Zakzakky’s grandmother was buried and tried to exhume her body as well as destroyed their cemetery at Mararraban Jos, along Kaduna-Zaria road.
They further alleged that when the killings were going on, personnel of the Red Cross who attempted to render help to the injured and evacuate those killed were denied access by soldiers. After listening to their submissions, the committee promised the movement that it would do a thorough investigation with a view to ensuring justice is done no matter which of the two sides is found guilty as well as ensure the release of their leader and members currently held in custody.