A civil rights organisation, the Nigerian Youths Collective Against Violence and Terrorism, in Abuja on Thursday took to the streets protesting against the role played by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky during the attack on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai by members of his sect.
The incident took place in December 2015 when members of the IMN led by El-Zakzaky attacked the convoy of Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Punch reports that the protest came barely 24 hours after a group of protesters under the aegis of the Sovereign Rights Coalition, called on the Federal Government to sever diplomatic relationship with Iran over the same allegation of sponsoring El-Zakzaky.
During the protest, which lasted for about three hours on the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), they called on the Federal Government to prosecute the Shiites’ leader for acts of terrorism against the country.
The coordinator of the group, Smart Aigbomian, warned the government against repeating the Boko Haram mistake.
He said, “The nations of the world watched in silence as Nigeria used domestic template to battle what was to become the monster, Boko Haram. In using local politics to resolve what was seen as just another problem, mistakes were made.
“These mistakes must not be repeated by Nigeria same as the mistake of keeping an unbefitting silence must not be repeated by the world. In the interest of humanity’s collective safety and Nigeria’s continued harmonious existence as a nation, the past must not repeat itself.
“In the past, we made mistakes and we are still paying for it dearly for not diligently prosecuting those who went on to become Boko Haram terrorists.”
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