By AbdulRaheem Aodu
Kaduna
Following the expiration of their two weeks ultimatum for the release of their leader Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, the Save Zakzak’s life group of Nigeria has threatened to storm Abuja on a peaceful demonstration.
Speaking in a press release signed by its National Coordinator, Bashir Mafara, the Save Zakzakƴ’s Life Group of Nigeria said they would “storm Abuja in their millions on a peaceful and well organised protest and sit around until their leader is released.”
It read in part: “Two weeks back, we have given an ultimatum to the Nigerian government, under the leadership of Muhammad Buhari, to release our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who has been in detention since 9 month back, with his wife Zeenatu, while his children as well as over thousands of his armless followers were massacred by the Nigerian armies unjustly. Over 200 of his followers are still in detention in Kaduna prison.
“Immediately after the massacre, and the sporadic shooting against Sheikh Zakzaky and his arrest, taking him to DSS for continue detention, several calls were made to the Nigerian government by well meaning individuals, within and outside Nigeria, to release him, since the DSS testified that they are only given him protection against some people attempting to harm him.”
“As we always enquire: why the Nigerian government fails to release Zakzaky, why these injustices persist against him, despite the fact that, he is desperately in need of absolute and complete special medical care? Why the Buhari government is interested in continued detention of an illustrious Nigerian citizen, peace lover, with sense of humanity and foresight? Why Zakzaky is being humiliated in such a way that his children were shot death at his presence?”
Continuing, it said: “It seems the massacred of Zakzaky’s followers, killing of his six children within one year by the Nigerian armies, and the destruction of his Hussainiyya, his house and many more, are calculated and well planned by the Nigerian government with a zeal to fulfilled the mission it co-sponsored against him.
“Unfortunately, as the ultimatum expires today, Monday, 3th October, there is no sign of his release. At this point, Sheikh Zakzaky’s life group would find a suitable time, to storm Abuja in millions, with our children, in what we called: A peaceful and well organised protest and sit around, we will never leave the city until our leader is released.
“We are extending invitation to local and international human right organisations, human rights activists, media, as well as all other individuals with sense of humanity and love; to witness and observed a peaceful move, to save the life of our oppressed leader.”
