Shiites threaten to boycott inquiry panel, demand for Zakzaky’s release

Shiite members in Kaduna state have threatened to boycott the commission of inquiry set up by the state government, if their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is not released.

The Kaduna state government set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the cause of the clash between members of the Shiite sect and the Nigerian Army.

President of the sect’s Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa said they will not honour the invitation of the commission, if their leader does not give them the go ahead.

Musa said “The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria should be released unconditionally.

“The Nigerian Government is holding the leader of the Movement incommunicado knowing that he is the custodian of the documents of the Movement and has to give direction to the movement in the preparation of its Memorandum and the assembling of its witnesses.”

Adding that “The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must make a full disclosure of the number of persons in their various detention centers and grant lawyers of the movement access to most of them.

“The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must also make full disclosure of the number of persons they took to the various hospitals and the location of the hospitals to enable the lawyers of the movement have access to them and interview them preparatory to the inauguration of the commission.”

He also said “The Commission of Inquiry must also give full assurance that the members of the Movement that will give evidence will be fully protected.

Read: ‘We’ve warned Nigeria to release Shiite leader,’ Iran says

“The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command must disclose the number of persons it has charged to court and the number of persons it has in prison custody.”

The clash occurred after members of the Shiite sect allegedly alleged attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff- Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.