Rights commission to investigate alleged killing of Umar Sokoto by police

By Albert Akota Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has told members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) that it will investigate their petition alleging that the Police shot Sheikh Kasim Umar Sokoto, one of their members while protesting against the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The Commission’s Director of Legal Services and Enforcement, Mr. Olaniyi Omodara who received the members of the Movement on behalf of the Ag. Executive Secretary stated this at the headquarters of the Commission when he received IMN members who came to file a petition on the killing of Sheik Umar Sokoto.
Mr. Omodara urged the IMN members also known as Shiite group to ensure that their protests were always carried out in a peaceful manner adding that the Commission will investigate the circumstances behind the death of their member with a view to ensuring that justice is done in accordance with the law.
He also urged the Shiite group to attach all necessary documents and evidence needed to substantiate their allegation against the Police on the killing of Sheik Umar Sokoto to enable the Commission arrive at an informed decision on the petition.
On the continued detention of Shiite leader, Mr. Omodara assured the groups to exercise patience as appropriate steps are being taken to actualize the release of their leader.
Earlier, a representative of the Shiite group, Sheikh Abdullahi Zango urged the Commission to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged shooting of Sheikh Umar Sokoto by the Police and ensure that the culprit is brought to book.
He alleged that Sheikh Umar Sokoto was shot by the Police with a poisoned bullet in January this year and he later died in the hospital.
The Islamic cleric restated that IMN believed in peaceful protests and that the members had always conducted themselves in the most responsible manner and therefore would never be deterred in their demand for justice and fairness in any of their matters including the demand for the release of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.