The Minister of Justice seems to have put smiles on the faces of Shiite faithfuls who have been agitating for the release of their leader incarcerated by the Nigerian security operatives.
Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky
The Punch reports that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has demanded the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
Malami, according to a statement, asked the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to formalise its request for the release of the Shi’ites’ leader, who alongside some members of the group, have been in detention since December, 2015.
This was after the group clashed with troops in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, in Zaria.
Salihu Isah, the AGF’s special adviser on media and publicity, in a statement on Thursday, informed that Malami gave the advice on how to press for the detainees’ release during a visit on Tuesday by a delegation of the Supreme Council put together by its national president and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
“I will do whatever I can within the confines of the law to see how an amicable resolve can be achieved.
“So when your demands are formalised, I will treat and facilitate it to the appropriate quarters accordingly,” the AGF was quoted to have said.
“As Muslims, we know what is obtainable in Islam especially in the area of rights, individual rights, especially rights of way.
“As Muslims, we have a collective responsibility to create awareness through our preaching on tolerance and compliance according to the dictates of Islam,” Malami stated, adding that the clash between the Shi’ites and the Nigerian Army in Zaria was unfortunate and sad.