The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has been charged with murder.
This is even when protests have continued calling for the release of the Muslim leader.
El-Zakzaky has been in the custody of the Nigerian government along with his wife since December 2015, this is even after court rulings authorising his release.
According to the Nigerian government, his continued detention is allegedly for his own safety.
The murder charge was brought against him by the Kaduna state government and if convicted he could be sentenced to death.
The charge read in part; “That you, Mallam Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky, Mallama Zeenah Ibrahim, Yakub Yahaya Katsina and Sanusi Abdulkadir, being leaders of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, on or about December 12, in Zaria, agreed, with other members of the sect, to do an illegal act, to wit; while armed with dangerous weapons, such as pistols guns, dane guns, cutlasses, knives, catapults, axes, clubs and sticks, blocked Sokoto Road, Sabon Gari, Zaria, and other major roads within the environs, and prevented the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff and the general public, from gaining access to the roads, and same act was done in pursuance of the said agreement, and, you, thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 59 of the penal code of law of Kaduna state 2017,”
The protests against the government to release El-Zakzaky has intensified in recent weeks with riots taking place which has led to arrests and even a few deaths.