Shi’ites gives 14-day ultimatum for El-Zakzaky’s freedom

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to release its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since December 2015.

The group threatened to mobilise its members and embark on a ‘sit around’ Abuja protest at the expiration of the ultimatum, should the government turned down its request.

A statement by the spokesperson of Sheik Zakzaky’s Life Group of Nigeria, Bashir Bafara, said: “There were evidences that President Buhari’s government has conspired with foreign and internal allies to wipe out the IMN and that was why soldiers were deployed in Zaria to kill innocent souls.

“The international community, human rights organisations and other well meaning individuals condemned the massacre and the continued detention of Sheik Zakzaky and his wife.

“The Save Zakzaky’s Life Group is calling on the Federal Government to release Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky within two weeks from now. If he is not released at the expiration of the deadline, members of IMN, men, women, and children will storm Abuja on a peaceful and well-organised ‘sit around’ and we will not leave until our leader is released unconditionally.”