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Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites, Mondey said that they have dragged the Nigerian Army to International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague for alleged war crimes in the December 2015 clash with its members in Zaria.

Addressing the press, media spokesman of the Islamic group, Ibrahim Musa said the Zaria clash was a war against the Shiites where over 1000 of them were allegedly killed by the Army.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in Hague, is believed to be the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

According to Musa, “International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has on behalf of Shiites called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year.

“In the filing submitted to the ICC Tuesday IHRC writes: “The crimes committed between the 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity. The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor.”

“The International Criminal Court is being urged to investigate the massacre of nearly 1000 civilians in Nigeria last December at the hands of the country’s armed forces.

“IHRC has called on the international tribunal which has a mandate to prosecute people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year in which soldiers attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s (IMN) supporters, symbols and property.

“The assault over two days in the northern Nigerian city left a trail of bloodshed and destruction including the shooting of the movement’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat. Both are currently believed to be in military custody, detained without charge.

“Information obtained by IHRC indicates that 217 people were confirmed killed in the attacks, another 219 are in detention, and 482 are still missing. The number of injured is believed to run into many hundreds. IHRC’s filing to the ICC is largely based on eye-witness evidence of the army’s assault.

“The majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. Cases of people being burnt alive have also emerged. Injuries caused by machetes or other knife wounds have also been found on the corpses, and could be the work of the criminal groups that perpetrated acts of looting and mutilation alongside the military. Signs of torture and electrocution have been evidenced on the body of the IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and other detainees, two of whom died as a result thereof.

“Sexual violence has also been reported, including cases of rape against women affiliates of the IMN. A 14-year old female witness told IHRC that the military shot her in her private parts when she resisted attempts by soldiers to rape her. Some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and others were deliberately shot in the pelvic region damaging their uteri.

“Photographic evidence has been obtained along with testimonies of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree. Some corpses were allegedly incinerated, apparently in order to conceal any evidence.

“In its submission IHRC says that the evidence suggests that the army’s assault was a systematic and pre-planned attempt to snuff out the IMN whose growing popularity have made it a thorn in the side of Nigerian governments.

“A similar army assault in July 2014 during a religious preocession led to the deaths of 34 IMN members including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky who were apparently singled out for execution.

“During the December’s violence soldiers were seen celebrating and chanting slogans against the IMN, such as ‘we have finished with the Shia and Zakzaky’ and ‘no more Shias in Nigeria’. Although the IMN has support among Nigeria’s Sunnis and Shias it is often portrayed by its detractors as a Shia organisation.

“During the violence soldiers used automatic weapons, explosives and armoured vehicles against unarmed civilians. This, along with the destruction of places of worship, graves and other buildings associated with the IMN, appears to support the contention that the attack was aimed at fatally damaging or eliminating the IMN.

“Although the state government in Kaduna has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry IHRC believes it is insufficiently independent and impartial to be able to hold those responsible to account, nor is there any reasonable prospect of any prosecutions.

“In his speech announcing the inquiry state governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai listed a range of grievances against the IMN, which is indicative of bias against the IMN from the start. He was also responsible for demolishing IMN properties before setting up the commission of inquiry,” he said.

March 21, 2016
Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites, on Monday said that they have taken the Nigerian Army to International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague for alleged war crimes in the December 2015 clash with its members in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Addressing Journalists, Spokesman of the Islamic group, Ibrahim Musa said the Zaria clash was a war against the Shi’ites where over 1000 of them were allegedly killed by the Army.

The ICC is believed to be the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

According to Musa, “International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has on behalf of Shiites called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year.

“In the filing submitted to the ICC today IHRC writes: ‘The crimes committed between the 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity. The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor’.

“The International Criminal Court is being urged to investigate the massacre of nearly 1000 civilians in Nigeria last December at the hands of the country’s armed forces.

“IHRC has called on the international tribunal which has a mandate to prosecute people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year in which soldiers attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s (IMN) supporters, symbols and property.

“The assault over two days in the northern Nigerian city left a trail of bloodshed and destruction including the shooting of the movement’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat. Both are currently believed to be in military custody, detained without charge.

“Information obtained by IHRC indicates that 217 people were confirmed killed in the attacks, another 219 are in detention, and 482 are still missing. The number of injured is believed to run into many hundreds. IHRC’s filing to the ICC is largely based on eye-witness evidence of the army’s assault.

“The majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. Cases of people being burnt alive have also emerged. Injuries caused by machetes or other knife wounds have also been found on the corpses, and could be the work of the criminal groups that perpetrated acts of looting and mutilation alongside the military. Signs of torture and electrocution have been evidenced on the body of the IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and other detainees, two of whom died as a result thereof.

“Sexual violence has also been reported, including cases of rape against women affiliates of the IMN. A 14-year old female witness told IHRC that the military shot her in her private parts when she resisted attempts by soldiers to rape her. Some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and others were deliberatelly shot in the pelvic region damaging their uteri.

“Photographic evidence has been obtained along with testimonies of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree. Some corpses were allegedly incinerated, apparently in order to conceal any evidence.

“In its submission IHRC says that the evidence suggests that the army’s assault was a systematic and pre-planned attempt to snuff out the IMN whose growing popularity have made it a thorn in the side of Nigerian governments.

“A similar army assault in July 2014 during a religious procession led to the deaths of 34 IMN members including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky who were apparently singled out for execution.

“During the December’s violence soldiers were seen celebrating and chanting slogans against the IMN, such as ‘we have finished with the Shia and Zakzaky’ and ‘no more Shias in Nigeria’. Although the IMN has support among Nigeria’s Sunnis and Shias it is often portrayed by its detractors as a Shia organisation.

“During the violence soldiers used automatic weapons, explosives and armoured vehicles against unarmed civilians. This, along with the destruction of places of worship, graves and other buildings associated with the IMN, appears to support the contention that the attack was aimed at fatally damaging or eliminating the IMN.

“Although the state government in Kaduna has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry IHRC believes it is insufficiently independent and impartial to be able to hold those responsible to account, nor is there any reasonable prospect of any prosecutions.

“In his speech announcing the inquiry state governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai listed a range of grievances against the IMN, which is indicative of bias against the IMN from the start. He was also responsible for demolishing IMN properties before setting up the commission of inquiry”. He said.

March 21, 2016
Shi’ites shun probe panel

•Hearing begins in Kaduna

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called Shi’ites, yesterday shunned the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing last December’s clash between a detachment of the Army and members of the movement in Zaria.

The commission yesterday began hearing in Kaduna.

At the inaugural sitting, Army officers, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Maj.- Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, were present.

Shi’ites’ lawyers, who were not at the sitting, reportedly wrote the commission, informing it of their inability to submit a memorandum because of lack of access to the leader of the movement, Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky, whose directive they needed.

Addressing the sitting, the commission Chairman, Justice Muhammed Lawal Garba, said: “This sitting has to be adjourned till Wednesday because of the absence of one party involved in the enquiry.

“Counsel to the commission, Yusuf Ali (SAN), has been asked to find out the whereabouts of the leader of the Shiites and report to the commission.

“It is required by law for every party in the clash to be present at sittings.”

The group had faulted the 13-man panel, saying some of its members were against it.

Addressing reporters after the adjournment, counsel to the commission, Ali promised to find out the whereabouts of the Shi’ite’s leader and write the authority to enable IMN lawyers have access to him.

He said about 105 memoranda were received by the commission.

February 23, 2016
Again, Shi’ites protest in Kaduna, demand Zakzaky’s release

Members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria (IMN) Wednesday embarked on another peaceful demonstration in Kaduna metropolis demanding unconditional release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky who has been detained for the past 50 days by security agents.

The protesters who are mostly student came under auspices of Academic Forum of the movement said; “it is pathetic that contrary to Nigerian constitution that said nobody can be detained more than 24 hours without being charged to the court, sheik El-Zakzaky has been in custody for 50days which is a violation of his constitutional right.”

The leader of the protest Mikaeel Yusuf said, following the military assault on the residents of sheik El-Zakzaky and two of their centers 730 of their members have been missing while 220 are in Kaduna prison, among them women and students.

“We must accept the fact that students lay the foundation stone of the future of all societies because the youthful stage of a student is a prominent stage compare to all stages of life. It is a stage where students learn life issues and how to tackle challenges ahead and how to build a beautiful life. This is a stage where the growth and development of every Nation is determined.

“It is now six weeks on, since when the Nigerian Army launched a coordinated crackdown massacre on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the guardianship of his eminence Allamah Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. Tens of students were brutally killed by the Nigerian Army and hundreds more are still under illegal detentions.

“This is a display of inhumane and gross violation of fundamental human rights against fellow Nigerian Citizens. Based on the list that the Islamic Movement compiled, 750 men and women are either in military detentions or murdered.

“Amongst them are dozens of students, excluding the 220 others that are presently in Kaduna, some Prison languishing with gun shots injuries without medical treatment. Children killed in 2014 by the same Army also blocked way? Does the house of Shaikh Zakzaky that was set on fire with people inside and later demolished blocked way?

“What about killing of finally, we are calling for the immediate release of Allamah Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife as well as all others in detention. The perpetrators of these demonic acts be brought to book for the crime against humanity we demand Justice right now,” he said.

They however protested from Katsina Roundabout to Kano Road junction on Ahmadu Bello Way, before turning to Kano Road down to Tudun Wada. The streets were shut for the period of the protest.

February 3, 2016
El-Rufai’s panel won’t be fair to us —Shi’ites

•Say it’s commission of indictment

The Shiite Islamic movement has kicked against the inauguration by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the December clash between members of the group and soldiers.

The group accused El-Rufai of inaugurating a ‘commission of Indictment’ against them, concluding that the commission of inquiry would not be fair to the Shi’ites group.

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in a swift reaction issued after the inauguration of the commission yesterday, said it had earlier written a petition against the commission and its composition, which was not addressed by the state government.

According to the movement’s spokesman, Ibraheem Musa, “The Islamic Movement believes the commission looks more like a commission of indictment than a “commission of inquiry because of the following indisputable facts:

“Some identified members of the commission have vested interests against the Movement in particular and the Shi’a in general. Thus, by law, they are automatically disqualified from participating or serving in the commission.

“Kaduna State Government has demonstrated bias and made pre-matured conclusions against the Movement even before setting up the Commission.

“The Nigerian Army, ably represented in the Commission too, has vested interests with the level of serious and grievous allegations of massacre, illegal detention, rape, arson and willful destruction of properties against it.

“The Movement is not represented in the membership of the Commission.

“The composition of the Commission has no local or international human and humanitarian rights groups.

“In view of the above, the fairness, independence and impartiality of the Commission as required by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are in doubt.

“The rules of natural justice require, inter alia, that where likelihood of bias can reasonably be inferred or discovered whether directly or indirectly from the surrounding circumstances, then fair hearing is not observed. This is because justice should not only be done but it must be manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to have been done.

“Based on the above, we still insist that: The Commission as constituted lacks both legal and moral standing to inquire into the “clashes” that happened between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on 12th -14th December, 2014 at Zaria for lack of fairness, independence and impartiality.

“An independent judicial commission of inquiry with the supervision and observation of international community be set up instead to inquire into the Zaria incident of December 12-14, 2015.

“The leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky, should be released from custody. Even at the time of writing this statement, neither his family nor lawyers have met him wherever he is being detained.”

January 29, 2016
We won’t appear before commission, insist Shi’ites

•’Release Zakzaky’

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise called the Shi’ite, at the weekend, insisted that it would not appear before a Commission of Enquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate last month’s clash between it and soldiers.

It said it would only appear if its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Yakubu El-Zakzaky, was released.

The group, which embarked on a peaceful demonstration in Kaduna at the weekend, after the 40th day prayer for the repose of the souls of the victims, however, said it would never take up arms against the government and would not be violent in seeking redress for its members, who were allegedly killed in Zaria.

Addressing reporters, spokesman Mukhtar Abdullahi Sherief said the movement would use legal means to ensure justice was done.

He said the Shiite did not have confidence in the commission because some of the members were enemies of the group and condemned it.

Sherief added: “One of the conditions for us to appear before the commission is for the government to release our leader, Zakzakky and others unconditionally.

“Seven hundred and thirty of our members are yet to be accounted for and bodies of the victims are still with the Army. Let them release the bodies to us for burial according to Islamic rites.”

The prayer was held at the Rigasa Central Mosque, and the protest started from Katsina Road roundabout to Leventis roundabout.

January 25, 2016
Shiites and the eye of the needle

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, more popularly known as the Shiites, are sceptical their testimonies before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) investigative panel and the judicial panel set up by the Kaduna State government will amount to anything. They have set conditions for their appearance. While the conditions are fairly tame and easy for the government to meet, it is unlikely the Shiites will receive favourable hearing. Zarians are against them, the governor himself, Nasir el-Rufai, could hardly disguise his contempt for them when he addressed the state last December, and Nigerians, having bought the Army’s version of the clash, complete with video presentation, have dismissed the sect as troublemakers. The army on the other hand has promised to appear before both panels, and in fact the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai , has already appeared before the NHRC panel.

Given the way the cards are stacked against the Shiites, it will be a miracle if they get fair hearing. Indeed, it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for the Shiites to come out from both panels justified. The sect’s ways are complex and sometimes offensive, and their men not media savvy enough to persuade the public that they were largely not to blame for the clash. The army will present tons of evidence before the panels and the general public. It is, therefore, in the interest of the sect and the cause of justice that the Shiites should present their own side of the story whether the government complies with the sect’s preconditions or not. If they do not, they will lose every conceivable way.

That is not to say the sect’s fears are unfounded. In Gen. Buratai’s testimony, he spoke alarmingly about issues extraneous to the hearing, and glowingly of the role and pride of the army. Referring to the Shiites’ activities, he argued that: “It is not in the best interest of the nation for such lawless acts to be condoned or for the Army to be unnecessarily condemned in the media. If the Army is ridiculed, then we are not doing our country any service. We must support the Army. We are facing a very serious challenge right now, which is our fight against insurgency. With what we have seen, if the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is allowed to move and operate freely the way it has been doing, the Boko Haram challenge will be a child’s play…We are here (before the panel) because we know the sanctity of human life which we have sworn to protect.”

In other words, in Gen. Buratai’s deposition, he had concluded the Shiites were a lawless group not to be condoned; the army is unnecessarily condemned in the media; to criticise the army is to ridicule it and do the country a disservice; the army must be supported come what may; the Shiites are well on their way to becoming another Boko Haram sect. These are very sweeping conclusions and generalisations. It is expected the general will adduce evidence to prove his assertions and allegations without leaving room for a shred of doubt.

As if the situation was not bad enough for the Shiites, the House of Representatives, which is also probing the clash, came out smoking through its Chairman of the House Committee on the Army, Hon. Rima Shawulu. Said the legislator during a meeting he held with the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade: “I want to say that it is unfortunate that there were casualties in the (Zaria) encounter. The life of every Nigerian matters. But, I want to remind you that if any group or persons wants to establish a parallel government in Nigeria under whatever guise, then it is the cardinal duty of the Nigerian Army to keep Nigeria one. You will recall the Maitatsine uprising in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Before then, Nigeria had to go into a bloody civil war between 1967 and 1970. You witnessed how the Nigerian military battled Niger Delta militants and now the war against Boko Haram.” In summary, Hon. Shawulu ranks the military’s constitutional responsibility higher than the possibility that the deaths of Shiite members, which he described as unfortunate, was procured unlawfully, perhaps even extrajudicially.

Perhaps the Shiites see the panels as a barren exercise, considering how already prejudiced everyone is. They do not have confidence they will get justice. But for whatever it is worth, it is important that they must appear before both panels and argue their case. They claim hundreds of their members were killed, against the seven the army said it counted. And they also claim they have evidence showing how the army brutally suppressed their members, far beyond what the army’s rules of engagement allow. Let the sect present these evidence copiously and logically. And then let them leave the rest of the country, including the panel’s members and leaders, to their conscience. While the army’s story will not change, and the Reps may have made up their minds, it is crucial that the Shiites get their own story out to the public since the panels are not sitting in camera. The country, if they have any courage and conscience left, will let justice be served.

January 24, 2016
Army chief: how my convoy was attacked by Shi’ites

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Tukur Buratai, spoke for the first time yesterday on the December 12 bloody encounter between his men and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called the Shi’ite sect.

He claimed the Army acted within the law.

Buratai, who explained how his convoy was allegedly held hostage by members of the sect, said his convoy was blocked in Zaria.

He added that his officers acted within the rules of engagement.

The COAS spoke in Abuja at the first sitting of the investigative panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the clash and recommend to the Federal Government how to prevent a recurrence.

He said: “The circumstances leading to the incident of December 12 have been articulated by the officers involved. I was in the convoy. It was my convoy, the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff. I left Dutse that morning, hoping to arrive Zaria in time, to attend the passing out parade of the 73 regular recruits. But the convoy was blocked when we entered Zaria.

“What transpired has been documented by the officers with me. They have also made their statements. They are here to give full account of what transpired. We are here because we respect human rights.

“We are here because we know the sanctity of human life, which we have sworn to protect. One of our constitutional roles is to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria, which also includes the totality of the protection of human rights and indeed, the property of every Nigerian. We have laid down our lives as army officers and soldiers over the years in the course of performing our constitutional roles.

“There is no way we will pick our weapons and deliberatively violate the rights of the people, which we have been paid to defend and protect. This is quite fundamental. We have constitutional responsibility. Drawn from that constitutional responsibility, we also have our rules and regulations. And drawn from that we have a duty to perform in restoring peace and order where such peace and order are being disturbed. So, we followed our rules of engagement, which are derived from the laws.

“The Army is a very respectable organisation. We are alive to our responsibilities. In doing so, we will not tolerate a situation where, individuals, in the name of human rights, continue to violate the rights of others and then turn back and accuse highly responsible organisations, such as the Army of human rights abuse.

“I believe those organisations crying against what the military has been doing are not being sincere. They can be termed agents of anarchy. They don’t want law and order to prevail in the society.”

Buratai assured the panel of his men’s cooperation, saying they would attend when requested and provide information to assist the panel in unearthing the cause of the clash.

NHRC’s Executive Secretary Prof. Bem Angwe said they received 158 memoranda in relation to the clash and how to prevent a recurrence, from 13 states, while they got 156 memos from members of the sect and two from the public.

He said the submission made by the COAS did not form part of the evidence of the Army because the panel’s investigation would be conducted in secret, assuring that the panel would be fair to all.

After the opening event, the panel, headed by Tony Ojukwu, began sitting outside public view. It will sit till January 22, following which its members will visit the venue of the incident, hospitals, where the dead were taken and detention camps where the sect members are being kept.

January 20, 2016
Shi’ites give conditions to appear before commission

•’Zakzaky must first be released’

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise called the Shi’ite group, yesterday demanded the unconditionally release of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

It said it was after this was done that it would appear before the judicial panel set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the clash between it and the Army last month.

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai last Saturday unveiled the names of the 14 members of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into the clash.

Shi’ite said its leader was the custodian of its documents and had to be released to direct it in preparing its memorandum and assembling witnesses to appear before the panel.

It gave the condition in a statement by the President, Media Forum of the movement, Ibrahim Musa, in Kaduna.

January 18, 2016
Shi’ites give conditions to appear before Commission of Inquiry

Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as the Shi’ite group Sunday demanded the unconditional release of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky before appearing in the Judicial panel set up by the Kaduna state government to investigate the clash between the Shi’ite group and the Nigerian Army last December.

It would be recalled that, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Saturday unveiled names of a 14-man members that make up the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the 12th-14th December 2015 clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army.

The Shi’ite group said it leader is the custodian of it documents and he has to be released to give direction to the Movement in the preparation of its Memorandum and the assembling of its witnesses to appear before the panel.

The group gave the condition in a statement by its President, Media Forum of the Movement, Ibrahim Musa and made available to newsmen in Kaduna Sunday.

According to the statement, “The Kaduna State Government has finally established the Judicial Commission of Inquiry it promised to establish. While the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN has called for the setting up of an impartial and independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry made up of independent persons and members of the international human rights community to unravel the circumstances that led to the pogrom in Zaria and its environs, it believes that the events of December 12, 2015 that led to the massacre of its members, the maiming of hundreds, the detention of its cadres and destruction of its properties are premeditated and that the Federal and Kaduna State Government are in a face saving measure regarding the gross human rights violations that it deliberately perpetrated.

“The Movement believes in the justness of its cause and the fact that the events that led to the setting up of the Judicial Commission is premeditated and will appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry only on the following conditions:

“That the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria should be released unconditionally. The Nigerian Government is holding the leader of the Movement incommunicado knowing that he is the custodian of the documents of the Movement and has to give direction to the Movement in the preparation of its Memorandum and the assembling of its witnesses.

“The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must make a full disclosure of the number of persons in their various detention centers and grant lawyers of the Movement access to most of them. This is because the Movement has credible evidence that a large number of its members are still in detention in military facilities and detention centers.

“The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must also make full disclosure of the number of persons they took to the various hospitals and the location of the hospitals to enable the Lawyers of the Movement have access to them and interview them preparatory to the inauguration of the Commission.

“The Commission of Inquiry must also give full assurance that the members of the Movement that will give evidence will be fully protected.

“The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command must disclose the number of persons it has charged to court and the number of persons it has in prison custody. This is necessary as the Kaduna State Police Command and the Kaduna State Government illegally and in a secret procedure granted detention orders against members of the Movement and herded them to the Kaduna Central Prison without taking any of them before any Magistrate Court. Presently, over 200 members of the Movement are in custody at the Kaduna Central Prison.

“The IMN has a list of 730 missing persons that are either killed by the Army or are still in military detention facilities for which the e Army is claiming that there is no single member of the Movement with them. Those in military detention facilities should be released and corpses of those killed be handed over to us for befitting Islamic burials.

“There are some members of the panel that are clearly neither impartial nor credible having shown open hostility to the movement and its leadership through their utterances, writings or actions in the past. Some had even called the government to go for the jugular of the Islamic Movement in the past. The IMN does not see any possibility of fairness and justice from them due to their stance on the Movement and Shia. Definitely in their position of arch-enmity with the Movement compromises any fairness from them in this matter. Independent human rights bodies should be included in the commission.

“These conditions that have been stated need to be fulfilled by the state government to convince the IMN that the state government, which is also an accomplice in the crime, since it demolished our properties and deliberately wiped out practical evidences of the army brutality on the movement, is not setting up the enquiry to justify the indictment of the Movement by both the federal and state governments,” the statement reads.

January 17, 2016