Three Years After Attack, Nigerian Police Release Corpses Of Shi’ites Killed During Protest

Three corpses of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called Shiites have been reportedly released by the Nigeria Police Force.

The deceased persons were allegedly shot by the police in 2019 during a protest to demand the release of Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of IMN.

The movement had filed a committal proceeding before an Abuja Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, and the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, for disobeying the order of the court.

The organisation said the contempt proceeding became necessary because they (IGP and CMD) have consistently refused to obey the judgment of the court, which ordered the release of the corpses of its members allegedly killed by the police on July 22, 2019.

At the time, the victims were protesting against the continuous detention of the IMN leader, El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenah, by security agencies despite a court order that they should be freed.

A member of the Academic Forum of IMN, Halima Aliyu, said this during a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, where she also released the court processes to journalists.

The content of Form 49, signed by the Registrar of the Federal High Court, stated in part, “Take note that the applicant applied for an order for your committal to the Correctional Centre having disobeyed the order of this court made on June 29, 2020.”

Aliyu said the court ordered the release of the corpses.

She said, “Form 49, seeking contempt of and disobedience to court order proceedings, has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Inspector-General of Police and Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital Abuja.

“Both the IGP and the CMD are expected to appear before Justice J. K. Omotosho of Court 7, Federal High Court, Maitama Abuja, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.”

But the group in a statement issued by Halima Aliyu on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic movement said there are also six corpses of their member in police custody, and they vow to explore every legal measure to get them released.

He said, “We would like to inform the public that after withholding the remain of Free Zakzaky protesters for 3 years, Police have begun to release the corpses.

“In response to our Press Conference held in Abuja on Monday, October 3, 2022, where we vow to continue with contempt of court proceedings against the Inspector General of Police, the Police release 3 out of 9 corpses of Free Zakzaky protesters.

“The protesters were killed by the Police on Monday, July 22, 2019, at Federal Secretariat Abuja, while protesting against the unlawful detention of his eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) and his wife Malama Zeenah Ibraheem.

“The police officers attacked the procession and opened fire on the protesters which led to the instant killing of 12 protesters, 1 unknown person, Usman Umar (Deputy Commissioner of Police) and Precious Owolabi (a Journalist with Channels TV).

“After the incident, the police evacuated corpses of the slain protesters, deposited 4 at National Hospital and 2 at Asokoro District Hospital and some of the protesters were able to take away other 6 of those brutally killed instantly.

“The police arrested many protesters and detained them at SARS (defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad facilities with neither medication nor feeding. While languishing in custody, 3 protesters eventually died, and again the corpses were moved to Asokoro District Hospital, making it 5 thereat.

“The total of people killed by the Police is 18 comprising 15 protesters, 1 Police Officer, 1 Journalist and 1 unknown person.

“On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Police released the corpses of three protesters. The protesters are Shaheed Suleiman Shehu, Shaheed Bilyaminu Abubakar Faska, and Shaheed Yakubu Yahaya Faska.

“Up until this moment, there are still 6 corpses of protesters in Police custody and we vow to continue the struggle to ensure the release of all the corpses.”