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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Police have released corpses of three members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), who were allegedly shot in Abuja by its personnel during a protest for the release of the group’s leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, in 2019.
A statement by Halima Aliyu on behalf of the Academic Forum of the IMN on Wednesday, said there are also six corpses of their members in police custody,vowing to explore every legal measure to get them released.
“We would like to inform the public that after withholding the remains of Free Zakzaky protesters for three years, Police have begun to release the corpses.
“In response to our Press Conference held in Abuja on Monday, October 3, 2022, where we vow to continue with contempt of court proceedings against the Inspector General of Police, the Police release three out of nine corpses of Free Zakzaky protesters.
“The protesters were killed by the Police on Monday, July 22, 2019, at Federal Secretariat Abuja, while protesting against the unlawful detention of his eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) and his wife Malama Zeenah Ibraheem.
“The police officers attacked the procession and opened fire on the protesters which led to instant killing of 12 protesters, one unknown person, Usman Umar (Deputy Commissioner of Police) and Precious Owolabi (a Journalist with Channels TV).
“After the incident, the police evacuated corpses of the slain protesters, deposited four at National Hospital and two at Asokoro District Hospital and some of the protesters were able to take away other six of those brutally killed instantly.
“The police arrested many protesters and detained them at SARS facilities with neither medication nor feeding. While languishing in custody, three protesters eventually died, and again the corpses were moved to Asokoro District Hospital, making it five there.
“The total number of people killed by the Police is 18 comprising 15 protesters, one police officer, one journalist and one unknown person.
“On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Police release corpses of three protesters. The protesters are Shaheed Suleiman Shehu, Shaheed Bilyaminu Abubakar Faska, and Shaheed Yakubu Yahaya Faska
“Up until this moment, there are still six corpses of protesters in Police custody and we vow to continue the struggle to ensure the release of all the corpses,” the statement read.