Shiite Protesters allege Police Brutality (Photos)

Even though President Muhammadu Buhari at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday claimed his administration was committed to protecting human rights in the same measure as the United States of America, Sheik Ibrahim El Zakzaky remains under arrest.

Today, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who took to the streets in protest were allegedly brutalised by members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The group while demanding for the release of  their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El Zakzaky allege that the Police tear gassed and beat them up.

The group more commonly known by its affiliation with Shia Islamic denomination has been at the centre of a major controversy bordering on human rights violations by the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government since December 2015.

The Shiite group was involved in a confrontation with the convoy of the chief of army staff, Gen Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna state in December when members of the group allegedly blocked the passage of the army chief while holding one of its famed processions.

A high-handed response from the military convoy left scores of the Shiite sect members dead. A subsequent raid on the Shiite headquarters by the army left hundreds of worshippers dead including family members of the group’s leader, Zakzaky who himself was arrested and has not been seen in public ever since.

See photos

@PoliceNG attacked peaceful #FreeZakzaky protest in Abuja @UN @amnesty @hrw @PressTV @TeamConfronters @channelstv pic.twitter.com/ugrxwuFNYd

— Yakubu Ibrahim (@Yax143) September 22, 2016

Why are we treating like this? Is dis a democracy @MBuhari? Peaceful protesters ar experiencing tragedy#FreeZakzaky pic.twitter.com/a8gDYOGBiO

— Muhammad Mukhtar (@moukhtarzubair) September 22, 2016