Members of the Shi’ite group in Nigeria on Wednesday embarked on a ‎peaceful demonstration in Kaduna metropolis demanding the unconditional release of their national leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention for the past 50 days.

The protesters, who are mainly students, marched under the auspices of the Academic Forum of the Movement. They described as ‘pathetic’ the detention of Zakzaky even though the Nigerian Constitution says that no citizen shall be detained for more than 24 hours without being charged to court.

Leader of the protesters, Mikaeel Yusuf, said following the military assault on the residence of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and two of their centres last December, 730 of their members have been missing while 220 are in Kaduna Prisons, including women and students.

Yusuf said during the procession: “We must accept the fact that students lay the foundation stone of the future of all societies because the youthful stage of a student is a prominent stage compared to all stages of life. It is a stage where students learn life issues and how to tackle challenges ahead and how to build a beautiful life. This is a stage where the growth and development of every Nation is determined.

“It is now six weeks on, since when the Nigerian Army launched a coordinated crackdown massacre on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the guardianship of His Eminence, Allamah Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H). Students were brutally killed by the Nigerian Army and hundreds more are still under illegal detentions.

“This is a display of inhumane and gross violation of fundamental human rights against fellow Nigerian citizens. Based on the list that the Islamic Movement compiled, 730 men and women are either in military detentions or murdered, also, dozens of students, excluding the 220 others that are presently in Kaduna prison languishing with gun shots injuries without medical treatment.”

Yusuf called for the immediate release of Zakzaky, his wife as well as all other members in detention and for the perpetrators of the acts be brought to book and charged with crime against humanity.

•Photo shows Sheikh Zakzaky.