Followers protesting in demand of the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky were on Thursday dispersed with teargas in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Shi’ites were dispersed by a combined team of Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army after they stormed Eagle Square to demand the release of the passports of their leader.
The protest, which kick-started at Federal High Court in Maitama was abruptly terminated at Eagle Square near the Federal Secretariat when armed security operatives arrived and opened fire on them.
The incident led to pandemonium in the area as passers-by were seen scampering to safety.
Many protesters sustained varying degrees of injury while others were seen lying unconscious on the ground after being hit by teargas canisters.
The Shiite leader had earlier requested the recovery of the Passport, but his plea was put aside on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Rant HQ recalls that El-Zakzaky and Zeenah were freed by the Kaduna State High Court in 2021 after spending over five years in detention. However, the secret police have failed to return their document.
Both the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the DSS have also denied being in possession of the couple’s travelling documents since they were released by the court.
The cleric subsequently approached the court, asking it to compel the secret police to release their passports to them so that they could travel abroad for medical treatment.
El-Zakzaky was said to have sustained injuries, including an eye injury when Nigerian soldiers stormed his home in December 2015. Hundreds of El-Zakzaky’s followers were reportedly killed and many and injured during the incident.
