LAWYERS representing the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, have confirmed that he lost an eye in the December clash between members of his group and the Army.
Counsel to the movement, Festus Okoye and Maxwell Kyon, yesterday addressed a world press conference in Kaduna to inform the public that Sheikh Zakzaky has sued the Army and other security agencies at the Federal High Court.
The lawyers, who narrated their experience before and during their meeting with the Shi’ite leader, said El-Zakzaky and his wife were not in good condition.
Kyon alleged that El-Zakzaky lost his left eye, while the right eye is partially affected.
The lawyer, who said El-Zakzaky’s wife was shot three times in the abdomen, noted that the Shi’ite leader and his wife were subjected to inhuman treatment by soldiers.
His words: “We met Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky at DSS custody. Initially, the SSS officials wanted to stay with us while we discussed with him, but we insisted that we must see him alone. Later, they maintained a reasonable distance and we spoke with him.
“He told us how the soldiers invaded his home and how they killed his followers. In fact, he told us that the soldiers, after killing many outside, forced their way into his home, closed the door and shot in their direction.
“El-Zakzaky told us that they would have killed him, but for his followers, who shielded him and his wife. He said those that protected them were later killed.
“El-Zakzaky and his wife were injured. The wife was shot three times in the abdomen, while one of the bullets hit El-Zakzaky in his left eye.”
Kyon said the IMN leader was not flown abroad for treatment as rumoured.
“He told us that they were only taken to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. El-Zakzaky said his wife was not given any form of anesthesia; soldiers just held her and forcefully removed the bullets from her abdomen.
“Malam said the only place they were flown to for treatment besides Abuja was Lagos where they tried to treat his other eye,” the counsel said.
He said when they visited him, El-Zakzaky could not identify them, adding that his wife helped him.