The release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky’s and his wife Malama Zeenatuddin Ibrahim’s travel documents was once again demanded by some members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) on Saturday.
Additionally, the group demanded the unconditional release of its brothers who were being held in “a number of detention facilities illegally without trial.”
At a press conference in Abuja, senior group member Prof. Shehu Ahmad Maigandi specifically called attention to “the grave human rights violations against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, His Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H), his family, and followers by the previous governments of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
“The public may recall that on March 16, 2013, during the administration of Jonathan, agents of the Department of State Security (DSS) detained our brother Malam Haruna Abbas at the Aminu Kano International Airport as he was returning from a trip abroad,” said Maigandi. At their respective homes, Adamu Suleiman and Ibrahim Hussaini, two additional brothers, were also detained.
“After ten years, the three brothers have been held against their will and in violation of their fundamental human rights as Nigerian citizens. Similar to this, on November 18, 2015, the Police detained our brother Hassan Muhammad at his home in Maigana Town, Kaduna state. Malam Hassan has since been held against his will.
“The general public will also recall that Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and his wife Malama Zeenah Ibraheem’s medical reports, which were provided to the Kaduna State High Court in 2019 via their attorney, Femi Falana, SAN, resulted in a favourable court decision regarding the couple’s medical leave to India. The court acknowledges that the couple’s health condition necessitates not only the use of skilled medical personnel but also a cutting-edge medical facility with the most recent technology.
“The couple’s travel documents were seized by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS) while they were on the medical trip to India. Since the security guards were not required to take away the passengers’ travel documents in order to grant them medical leave, the seizure of their passports was unlawful. The government is obviously violating the law to further an unfair cause.
“Considering the foregoing, we request the following:
“Unconditional release of the three Muslims—Malams Haruna Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini, and Adamu Suleiman—who have been held in a disputed manner since 2013;
“Prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Sheikh Zakzaky’s three biological sons and 31 other people on July 25, 2014;
“Unconditional release of Malam Hassan Muhammad and other brothers being held incommunicado in various detention centres;
“The investigation and prosecution of the Zaria Massacre’s mastermind and perpetrators in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian law and applicable international conventions”
“The unconditional release of Ibrahim Khalid and the other 49 detainees who have been held since July 22, 2019, including the Free Zakzaky protesters; and 6) the lifting of the travel ban on Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, as well as the unconditional release of their travel documents.”
