By Abdulganiu Alabi, Kaduna,
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have called on the Federal Government to release their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, or kill all of them.This followed the continued detention of the leader, who has not been freed, despite court orders that he should be released.
The protesters blocked all the major highways in Kaduna metropolis, chanting, “Free El-Zakzaky, we demand justice, we are Nigerians” “release El-zakzaky or kill us all.”
Speaking on behalf of the IMN, also called the Shiites, Nuhu Mafara, said they were out to demand the unconditional release of their leader who has been in detention for 612 days.
He said: “We members of the movement from Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Bauchi, Zamfara and other northern states are here to demand the unconditional release of our leader. This protest was jointly organised against the illegal detention of our leader.
“Today also marks the over 250 days since the court of the land ordered his release, but the cabals holding Nigerians to ransom have stubbornly refused to obey these court orders.”
A press statement by one of the group’s leaders, Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, said El-Zakzaky did not commit treasonable felony to deserve his incarceration, at a timer when different groups are calling for the break-up of the country.The Guardian leant that the police had attempted to stop the protesters, but were prevented by a superior order.