The women’s wing of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) were yesterday at the Kaduna State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to demand the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the movement presently in detention.
They also appealed to the federal government to pay compensation to the families and relations of victims of the recent clash with security forces in Zaria.
Chairperson of the association, Aisha Hassan, said: “Despite this display of inhumanity and gross violation of fundamental human rights, which no remorse was shown by the state authorities for what was undoubtedly a war crime against fellow Nigerians, the homes, Islamic centres and graves of the victims have been demolished with graves dug up and desecrated. Also, 13 other members of the movement were killed by the police during a peaceful procession in Kaduna on Tuesday December 15.
“The authorities have remained insensitive about our plight as they unjustly continue to keep our members in custody without allowing them any access, this is not talking about those who have been given mass burial by the army amongst who are women and children raped before they were killed by the soldiers as confirmed by some of the survivors who were also tortured after their arrest.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of our leader, his wife, our husbands, brothers, sisters and children that are being illegally detained in facilities across the northern states, release the corpses of our members so that they can be buried according to Islamic rights and also call on the government to pay compensation to the affected families,” she said.
She assured that members of the IMN are peace-loving people and would continue to remain undaunted, calm and resolute, adding, “these to us are only milestones in the true part of Allah our creator.”
