Nigeria - Widows, orphans protest in Kaduna over El-Zakzaky

                                     

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who claimed to be orphans and widows, yes­terday, took to the streets of Kaduna to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibra­him El-Zakzaky.

They chanted slogan in­cluding “Free our leader”, “Free El-zakzaky”, “He needs medical treatment” among others.

Abdullahi Mohammed, said they decided to storm the streets to protest the continuous detention of their leader by the Direc­torate of Security Service (DSS) since December 2015 following the bloody clash between the IMN and soldiers that left hun­dreds dead in Zaria, Ka­duna State.

Also speaking, a young woman, who claimed to be speaking for Zaria-based nongovernmental organization, AbdulFadI Foundation, Fauziya Sai­du, said the protest would continue until their leader was released uncondition­ally.

She said no amount of intimidation from Army could stop them from marching to Abuja and remain there until El- Zakzaky, wife and other members of the sect were released from the DSS cus­tody.
“Most of us here are widows and orphans. We are only demanding that our leader be released for medical treatment. We will continue this match to Abuja and we will not leave until our Sheikh, his wife and others are re­leased.

“Prior to that, in an unusual twist, the DSS claimed that Sheikh Za­kzaky was being kept in ‘protective custody be­cause he is a vulnerable individual.
“Although our leader and his wife are not being held in a prison cell, they are certainly not living comfortably.

“Then, there is his health, specifically the health of his last remain­ing eye, which is already half blind. “We call on those who believe in the adorable right of all hu­man beings to fairness, jus­tice and dignity, to help by joining us in a redoubled efforts. We must act before it is too late. Seriously, our leader needs access to doc­tors now.

“If they are really pro­tecting our leader as their lawyers have claimed, then we would want to ask them what form of threat is the visit of family members, doctors constituting? Con­sidering the impending and dangerous situation threatening to turn him blind, why are no doctors allowed?” she asked.