Pro-democracy and good governance group, Concerned Nigerians, has said it would commence daily sit-out to protest alleged killings of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiites.

A statement signed by the group’s publicity secretary, Theophilus Abu Agada, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday said the protest would commence at the Unity Fountain, Abuja on the 17th of January, 2018.

The statement also said the protest would be staged to demand the unconditional release of the leader of IMN, Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky.

The group who said it would not keep silent over what it described as the wanton attacks on the IMN members also added that it has invited many other civil society organisations as well as notable legal luminaries, to join calls for the release of El-Zakzaky and the end to the attacks on members of IMN.

According to the statement, “We hereby invite all members of the public as well as members of the press to our daily sit out as follows: “Demands for the release of Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky, his wife, Hajia Zeena Elzakzaky and other members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who have been held in custody since December 2015 in spite the order of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja which ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to release them since December 2, 2016.

“Just last week, 3 members of the IMN were killed in Abuja by the police for carrying out peaceful protest which is a fundamental right.

Attacks on peaceful Shiites’ processions and protests have continued unabated.

As Concerned Nigerians, we can longer remain silent in the face of these dastard acts of impunity especially the recent attacks on Shiites in Abuja last week.

“We have also invited the following organisations/persons or their representatives to act as observers for the duration of the sit-out:

“Femi Falana, SAN Festus Keyamo, SAN Rep of Justice Awa Nana Daboya of the ECOWAS COURT OF JUSTICE Country Director, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) Mr. Stephen M. Haykin, USAID Mr. Auwal Ibrahim MUSA, AG. West Africa Civil Society Organization Forum Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola, ECOWAS Parliament Head, Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross Dr. Samuel Bwalya, Country Director UNDP Rep – President ECOWAS Commission Head, ActionAID Nigeria Human Rights Officer US Embassy Human Rights Officer Canadian Embassy Head of Mission European Union Rep UNHCR Ben Mellor, DFID Human Rights Officer British High Commission Head, Amnesty Internation Nigeria Country Director, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) Country Director and Coordinating Director for west Africa Integration Program, WorldBank Head, Canadian International Development Agency Head, Clinton Foundation Charles Oputa, OurMumuDonDo Oby Ezekwesili Country Director, British Council Nigeria Head, International Republican Institute (IRI) Head, Macarthur Foundation Head, Peace and Justice Committee Head, Civil Liberty Organization Head, Centre for the Development of Civil Society Head, Pathfinder International.”