The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemns in strong terms the military repression of protesting members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites. Recently, members of IMN were brutalized by the combined force of armed policemen and the military in Abuja. The Shiites were legitimately protesting the continuous illegal detention of El-Zakzaky, the leader of IMN and other incarcerated members. Just like the previous attacks and repression, scores of IMN members were killed and many injured. We do not see the need for the use of lethal force on defenseless and unarmed protesters in the manner the armed military and policemen unleashed terror on members of IMN.
This action is not just undemocratic, but also violates section 39, 40 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution that give every citizen the right to freedom of expression, assembly/association and movement respectively. These rights are inalienable and cannot be subjected to the dictates of the ruling elite and the capitalist state. Hence, the Buhari-led administration is violating the rights of IMN members to freedom of expression, assembly and movement.
It is also tragic that despite the fact that the Federal High Court has declared that the continued detention of El-Zakzaky is illegal and thereafter ordered his release, the Buhari-led administration has flagrantly refused to abide by the order, something that is a brazen disrespect for rule of law.
SPN holds strongly that these attacks on democratic rights of citizens by the Buhari-led government are linked to the attacks on the living conditions of the working masses through pro-rich policies that denies the people the basic things of life such as jobs, living wage, free and functional education and healthcare, affordable housing etc.
We warn that this continuous repression of the Shiites is capable of snowballing into armed conflicts just like the way the Boko Haram crisis was mismanaged. We therefore call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) to also condemn the attacks and demand the release of El-Zakzaky and a halt to the repression.