Sheik el-Zakzaky IMN Shiite
leader
Sheik el-Zakzaky IMN Shiite
leader
Kano Police Command Threatens Maximal Force Against Free
Zakzaky Protesters
On Wednesday 19th December, 2018, the Kano State Police
Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf invited some members of the Islamic
Movement to his office and bluntly threatened to use maximal force
against them should they dare to henceforth defy his orders never
again to conduct a Free Zakzaky protest in the state.
The Islamic Movement has decided to go public on the issue of
this threat of the use of force, despite the fact that it will not
in anyway break our resolve and we are not in anyway shaken by this
latest threat.
The same CP had on Monday 14/11/2016 sent a detachment of
policemen to open fire on thousands of members of the Islamic
Movement who were peacefully marching during the Arbaeen religious
festival, killing at least 40 people. Till this day, only 18
corpses handed over to us were duly buried according to Islamic
rites, the rest were buried secretly by the police. Again on
Sunday, 05 November, 2017, the same CP sent a police unit to use
live bullets during yet another Arbaeen trek killing at least 3
persons, including an infant.
It is surprising that the CP would toe this line only some
moments after the President warned the police against
unprofessional conducts such as illegal detentions, extrajudicial
killings, torture and violation of fundamental human rights at the
convocation and passing out parade of the First Regular Cadet
Course at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. This recent
outburst of the CP clearly goes contrary to the President’s
rhetoric that ”We must abide by the constitutional code of conduct
in policing our people. It is appropriate to warn you as Police
Officers not to see yourselves as being above the Law.”
Free Zakzaky protest is our unassailable right as enshrined in
the constitution. The provisions of Sections 38 and 39 of 1999
constitution guarantees our right to congregate peacefully, which
is what we have been doing since the illegal detention of our
leader Sheikh Zakzaky on 14th December, 2015.
Besides, there is a recent ruling of a Kano state High Court
that affirmed the right of Shiites to organise their processions in
so far as they are peaceful and do not infringe on the rights of
other people. The recent video evidence by the New York Times
however has conclusively proved that our processions are usually
peaceful, don’t block the free flow of traffic but are attacked by
security forces without provocation.
To this end, we call on the public and in particular the
international community to prevail upon the Commissioner of police
to thread cautiously in his inordinate hatred against peaceful
unarmed protesters. He must be called to order not to carry out his
senseless threat to kill innocent unarmed citizens who are
exercising their right to peaceful protest as guaranteed by the
constitution.
If the CP and his superiors are uncomfortable with incessant
free Zakzaky protests, are advised to do the needful to obey a 2016
court judgement freeing our leader, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife
from their illegal incarceration. Only this will bring an end to
the protest and not threats or intimidations. Threats will only
strengthen our resolve to fight for our Rights and protect
them.
SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT MEDIA FORUM OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA