Shi’ites Announces Suspension of Protests

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMM) has announced temporary suspension of its “free Zakzaky” street protests.

The federal government had last week proscribed the group following a federal High Court ruling, describing it as a terrorist organisation.

Members of the Islamic organisation have been protesting against the continuous detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, who have been in detention for over three years.

The IMN leader and his wife have been in detention since their arrest in December 2015, following a violent clash between his followers and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna state.

Spokesman of the IMN, who announced the suspension of the protests in a statement on Wednesday, said the action was to allow room for some new openings aimed at resolving the problem.

He said the decision to suspend the protests was taken in good faith, adding that it is out of respect for some eminent people and groups, whose input in the resolution of the problem, looks genuine.

The statement said: “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria do hereby announce to the general public and the international community that it has temporarily suspended its ’Free Zakzaky’ street protests to allow for some new openings into the resolution of the problems, especially the court case instituted by our lawyers on the proscription order made by the federal government this week.

”It has taken this step in good faith out of respect for some eminent people and groups, whose input in the resolution of the problems appears genuine and we sincerely hope an amicable way could be found to solve the crises surrounding the illegal detention of our leader for almost four years now.