Shiite women protest continued detention of leader

Over 3000 Women of the Islamic Movement known as Shiites in Nigeria have protested in the city of Kaduna, North Western Nigeria, seeking immediate release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, his wife and many of his followers have been in detention since December 12 when they clashed with the convoy of the Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

While the army acknowledged killing seven of the Shiites Muslim sect, the group alleged that over 800 of its followers were killed in Zaria.The women in their numbers marched through Kaduna metropolitan streets holding placards with inscription, "Free Zakzaky".Spokesperson for the women, Lubabatu Alhassan, said the protest seeking for the release of their leader became necessary having spent some months in security facilities. Lubabatu pleaded with the   State Government to hand over corpses of their members killed during the clash for burial.The women also condemned what they described as brutality meted on them by the Government and the Nigerian Army, saying that the judicial commission of inquiry setup by the Kaduna State government was a ploy to indict them.