Shi’ite Protesters Demand Release Of El-Zakzaky’s Passport As They Storm Abuja

Shi’ite protesters on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the travel ban placed on the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky as they stormed the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The protesters, reports say, demanded the release of the International passports of El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenah, for a medical trip.

Earlier on Thursday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja rejected an application filed by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, asking the Department of State Services to release his passport and that of his wife.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled that the Islamic cleric failed to prove that his passport was missing, despite the 10 exhibits provided by his lawyers, to prove that the DSS took the passports away, after his return from India in 2018.

The protesters carried banners and placards bearing, “Buhari must remove the travel ban on Sheikh El-Zakzaky.”

Unconfirmed reports say shootings were also heard at the protests.

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that two persons were injured on Thursday after a vehicle conveying inmates to the State High Court, hit a commercial minibus.

The accident caused palpable tension in Osogbo, the Ogun State Capital.