Officials of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), on Tuesday disrupted a peaceful protest staged in Abuja by a political group, ‘Concerned Nigerians’ for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzakky and his wife Hajia Zeenah Ibrahim
The convener of the FreeZakZakky protest, Deji Adeyanju in a statement through the secretary Dr. John Danfulani condemned the violent interruption, describing it as reprehensible and a violation of its rights to lawful assembly as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.
The statement stated that the peaceful protest which was staged to seek the release of Sheik El ZakZaky and his wife Hajia Zeenah Ibrahim from their 485 day in detention in compliance with the order Justice Kolawole was violently interrupted by joint security team, using water cannons, dogs and teargas.
"This morning the officers from the Nigerian Police Force along with men of the State Security Services (SSS) violently interrupted our peaceful gathering when we sought to press home our demands for the Federal Govt to comply with the order of Justice Kolawole by releasing Sheik El ZakZaky & his wife Hajia Zeenah Ibrahim from their 485 day incarceration.
"The joint security team interrupted our gathering using water cannons, dogs & teargas. They also occasionally fired live bullets into the air.
"All attempts by several people present to speak to impress it on the officers present that our gathering was lawful peaceful fell on deaf ears “the statement read.
The group said it remained undeterred in its demand for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzakky and cannot be cowed by any intimidation or "unconstitutional actions by a government that understands violence and force as its only dispute resolution mechanism".
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