Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have asked that their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky be released unconditionally from detention without further delay.
Sheik Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in DSS detention since December 12, 2015, following his arrest afÂter his members clashed with soldiers in Zaria, where several people lost their lives.
In a statement issued by IMN’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, the group called on the Federal Government to reÂlease Sheikh Zakzaky withÂout any condition and without further delay, insisting that It is only Zakzaky’s release that will explain the mystery of him being in “protective custody, not the explanation given by the Department of State Services (DSS) that he remained in “protective custody” in his own volition.
“The Islamic Movement in Nigeria won’t accept this protective custody explanation of the DSS, since for some months now it has refused to grant the Sheikh access to his leading counÂsel, Mr. Femi Falana. For the submission of the DSS before the court to gain any merit, it should with all urgency allow the lawyers of Sheikh ZakzaÂky to meet and talk to him.
“People with conscience all over the world were bafÂfled, when on Tuesday 15th June, 2016 the Directorate of State Services, DSS menÂtioned before a Federal High Court in Abuja that it is holdÂing the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, in proÂtective custody in order to fend him off from those who are hell bent on murdering him.
“That Directorate of State Services has also confirmed that Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat Ibraheem, were never handed over to the Police for any form of investigation or interrogaÂtion.
“But isn’t it ridiculous to detain an innocent Sheikh? Where in our books and the laws setting up that Directorate of State Services is it mentioned that a person who has not committed any offence and without any prima facie evidence links to the commission of an offence should be detained indefiÂnitely? Indefinite detention and detention without trial are only associated with military regimes and not demoÂcratic regimes.
“Secondly the DSS is adÂmitting there are some people in the corridors of power who want to extra judicially kill Sheikh Zakzaky, hence its givÂing him “protective custody”. As a follow up question, why didn’t the DSS mention the name of those it is accusing of wanting to see the Sheikh dead? Are they sacred cows that the public would not be told their names? But it is pubÂlic knowledge already that the GOC of One Mechanised DiÂvision Kaduna gave the order on behalf of the Nigerian Army that a cordon and search opÂeration be carried out in Zaria that ultimately led to many crimes against humanity. Is the DSS now telling the NaÂtion that it is protecting Sheikh Zakzaky from the murderers in the Nigerian Army?
“It can be inferred also from the statement of the DSS before the court that all the allegations proffered by the army on why it carried out the massacre in Zaria are all false accusations”, the statement said.