Men of the Nigerian Police Force fired tear gas to disperse members of the Shia group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who stormed the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Monday.
According to reports, members of the group, who attempted to enter the building through its main gate, were demanding the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been held by the Federal Government since the group clashed with the army in December 2015.
Many members of the group, gasping for breath, reportedly scattered in different directions, with some dashing towards the neighbouring National Mosque and Federal Secretariat buildings.
The group said the protest was to demand the release of El-Zakzaky, whose health it said it learnt has been deteriorating in detention.
A leader of the protesters, S.I Ahmad said in a statement: “It has been confirmed that the health of the leader of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is seriously deteriorating.
“We can recall that the humble Shaikh was attacked by the Nigerian Army on the 12th of December , 2015 in which over one thousand people were massacred including three of his sons.
“Since then, Shaikh Zakzaky was kept under illegal and unconstitutional detention by the Nigerian government despite the ruling of the Federal High Court that he should be freed and compensated.
“What is obvious is that his health condition in general and his sight in particular, are rapidly deteriorating and it has become increasingly clear that the Nigerian authorities are not bothered about the survival or health of Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.”