It is heading to the third month mark since the Zaria massacre. The world
still has no clue the whereabouts of Islamic movement leader Sheikh
El-Zakzaky. The Nigerian government has also not yet commented on the
whereabouts of a list of 705 missing citizens and whether they are dead or
alive.
Even if you regard Shia as animals, you should be concerned the whereabouts
of them. We clamored when 234 girls went missing in Chibok. No one cared
whether they were Muslims, Christians or Jews. No one asked their attitude
before they were kidnapped. As human beings we must be concerned as 705
Nigerians have been missing since December 12th 2015. Some are
breadwinners; some are students; some are husbands and some are wives.
When Goodluck Jonathan killed 33 of them and the first three of Zakzaky’s
sons, we all used the “animals” for political gains–as ammunition to
condemn Jonathan. So even if we are not afraid of what these millions of
“animals” will do in the soon-coming political dispensations, at least let
us remember how we used the “animals” to get Buhari and El-Rufai elected.
Mass graves wee found in Zaria but the police has abdicated its duties and
is not investigating. The army that declared itself as the defender of
Nigeria’s democracy is also not investigating into the kidnapped Sheikh
Zakzaky and the #missing705. No one is. A panel is for probe only and not
for investigation. A full investigation should be on the way to reconnect
the missing with their families.
Nigeria’s Attorney General has also been derelict of his sword duties. By
now he should have ordered an investigation into the missing citizens and
also ordered for immediate legal access to Sheikh Zakzaky who is kidnapped
by nature of his being held and denied bail and legal and family access.
Nigeria’s leadership should be aware that regardless of the mob support
they have, they will face justice for these crimes against humanity sooner
or later, on earth or the after life. They are not religious leaders and
took no religious oaths. No matter what faith you are, when you swear to
someone or a nation your God-commanded duty is to fulfill your obligations
under the oath you took; and if you cannot then you need to resign and
serve your God the way you choose.
I am disappointed in my country. I am disappointed in the new government. I
have repeated severally that institutional disadvantagement, oppression,
corruption and injustice is the reason God cursed us with Boko Haram and
made us the most disgraced nation on earth. If we continue this we will
remain cursed. They say, no justice, no peace.
God bless Nigeria.
We thank the Islamic Movement of Nigeria members and the nation’s millions
of Shia Muslims for their unprecedented and exemplary show of patience.
Dr. Peregrino Brimah @EveryNigerian
