Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of lawlessness and human rights violations in the murder of members of Shi’ite Muslim group in Zaria, Kaduna State and Kano State, as well as the ongoing killings in the Southern Kaduna.
He called on the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International and other world bodies to investigate the killings.
On the latest killing of at least 10 Shi’ite Muslims in Kano State, the governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the murder of over 300 Nigerians (in Kaduna), who were members of the IMN in one day and their burial in mass graves, as well as continuous murder of the Shi’ite sect should attract the attention of the ICC.
Fayose stated that he was worried that firearms, which should only be used as a last resort, were now being used to prevent Nigerians from expressing their religious faith.
“Under international human rights law governing the use of firearms during policing operations, the intentional use of lethal force is only permitted when strictly unavoidable, to protect life.
He also described the detention of the leader of the Shi’ite sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky, and some of his members since December as inhuman, clear contravention of his fundamental human rights, and a disregard of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
“All well-meaning Nigerians must prevail on the federal government to release Ibrahim Zakzaky without further delay,” he said.
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