The Islamic Movement of Nigeria on Thursday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of sponsoring acts of brutality against its members as they continued their massive protests in Abuja, leading to the obstruction of vehicular movements in strategic places within the city.
The group had on Wednesday forced members of the National Assembly to halt proceedings abruptly as they invaded the complex within the three Arm zone, where they overwhelmed secure operatives guiding the NASS complex.
The group continued their protests on Thursday by blocking entrance leading to the National Hospital Abuja and places around the National Stadium, within Abuja.
Members of the Shi’ite group who were chanting “Release El-Zakzaky, prevented free flow of traffic as they use the opportunity to slip papers containing their demands into moving cars.
The statement which was signed by Abdullah Musa for the “Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement” accused the President of “ attacking the Islamic Movement using a stage managed traffic obstruction organized by agents”
The group had held regular protests within Abuja since December 2015, following bloody clashes with military authorities in Zaria, Kaduna state, leading to arrests and detention of its leader, Ibrahim El- ZakyZaky.
The group has been seeking the release of its leader, Ibrahim El-ZakyZaky, who is currently standing trial over alleged “ culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace”
The group claimed that unspecified number of the members have been killed , including women and children, since 2015, when the incident occurred.
According to the Movement “ The brutality exhibited by Buhari regime is nothing less than murder, extermination, severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law”
The group also claimed that they have been tortured and persecuted, while many of their members disappeared.
The group also appealed to the United Nations to declare the President “wanted for committing crimes against humanity.
“On behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement, we have notified the UN Resident Coordinator in a letter on February 2, 2019 and we are yet to see any action from the UN”.
