The spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh El Zakzaky is in the protective custody of the police following clashes between his Shiite sect and the Nigerian army on December 12.
According to a Premium Times story, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase told members of the special committee of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who met him in his office that Mr. El-Zakzaky was currently in police custody.
The NSCIA had last week raised a seven-man committee, with Daud Naibi as chairman and Ishaq Oloyede, Muzammil Hanga, Abubakar Tsav, Ibrahim Suleiman, Yusuf Ali, Abubakar Siddique and Is-haq Oloyede as members.
The committee was mandated to meet all parties involved in the clash and report to the council.
During the meeting with Mr. Arase and all the Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police at the force headquarters in Abuja, the NSCIA delegation sought to know the whereabouts of the Shiite leader, a police source at the meeting told the online newspaper.
Mr. Arase was said to have admitted that Mr. Elzakzaky was in police custody receiving treatment, but that he would not grant anyone access to him until his health improves.
The police chief reportedly assured the delegation that Mr. El-Zakzaky was doing well and not under any life-threatening condition.
The police boss detailed that after Mr. El-Zakzaky’s recuperation, he would have to seek “orders from above” before allowing the NSCIA delegation access to the sect leader, according to a police source who was present at the meeting and who spoke to the news site.
The clash between the army and the Shiite sect left scores of adherents of the latter, dead. Their spiritual homes and temples were also flattened by the military.
The human rights community at home and abroad has asked for a full scale probe.
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