Our members were tortured, raped – Shi’ites

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has said that many of its members were tortured and raped before they were killed by soldiers during the clash with the army in Zaria. The Public Relatioons Officer of the group, Jamila Awwal, said this while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday. Awwal, who said the soldiers also denied injured members access to medical attention, called for the unconditional release of the group’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. She said, “Some of the women were raped before they were killed by the soldiers as confirmed by some survivors who were also tortured after their arrest. “The soldiers molested our women and removed their hijabs which is a serious violation of Islamic rights. “All these were followed by propaganda by the government and the army to paint the movement and its leader in a bad light thereby instigating sectarian sentiment and creating tension in the country. “The authorities have remained insensitive to our plight as they unjustly continue to keep our revered leader, El- Zakzaky, and members in various military facilities and prisons.” She stressed the resolve of the Shi’ite women to ensure the release of their leader, husbands and children. “We call for the release of our husbands and children that are in illegal detention facilities across the northern states. Corpses of our members killed by the army should be released to us immediately for burial according to Islamic rites,” she said. As part of the briefing, the group played the video allegedly showing the attack by soldiers on the Huissaniya Islamic centre and the leader’s resident at Gyallesu in Zaria. Meanwhile, a report of the investigation by the House of Representatives into the clash between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Zaria may be submitted next week, The PUNCH has learnt. The lawmakers, who have been away on Christmas and New Year break, will reconvene in Abuja on January 12. The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, told The PUNCH that the report would be one of the first issues the House would attend to on resumption. Many lives were lost in Zaria on December 12 and 13 when members of the Islamic sect, otherwise known as Shi’ites, clashed with soldiers. The Shi’ites were said to have blocked the motorcade of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, which led to the clash. After the clash, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, asked the Committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate the clash. “The committee conducting the investigation has held several meetings with the stakeholders. They have met with some security chiefs and the Shi’ite members themselves. “Considering the fact that the House gave the committee a very short time frame, the report will be presented when we resume next week,” Namdas said.