Rabid Nigerian forces attack protesters demanding release of prominent Shia cleric

Nigerian government forces have opened fire on demonstrators demanding the release of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.   

On Tuesday, during the third day of consecutive protests, one person was severely injured during clashes with Nigerian forces and another 50 people were detained in Abuja.

Nigerian sources told Press TV on Monday that at least two young students were killed by the security forces during the ongoing protests in Kaduna which broke out on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Human Rights Commission has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately release Shiekh Zakzaky over his deteriorating health condition.

“In view of his deteriorating health, it is now more urgent than ever to allow Sheikh Zakzaky to be allowed access to immediate medical attention in order to assess the extent of his injuries caused by the stroke and access the necessary medical treatment,” read the statement.

Zakzaky lost his left eye sight in a raid, which was carried out by the Nigerian army on his residence in the northern town of Zaria back in December 2015.

During the raid, Zakzaky’s wife sustained serious wounds too and more than 300 of his followers and three of his sons were killed. Zakzaky, his wife, and a large number of the cleric’s followers have since been in custody.

The clergyman is said to have been charged with “criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances.”