Shiite leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky distributes palliatives to both Muslims and Christians from detention

ISLAMIC Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has joined the list of affluent Nigerians handing out palliatives to the needy by authorising his Shiite organisation to distribute immediate food assistance to 111,000 Nigerians.

Since December 2015, Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention after being arrested following a clash between his supporters and the Nigerian Army. Last year, he was allowed to go to India for medical treatment but after a few days returned as growing disagreements between the IMN and the accompanying Nigerian security meant prevented any operation from going ahead.

Despite being in detention in Kaduna, Sheikh El-Zakzaky has asked his followers to come to the assistance of the needy. Sheikh Mukhtar Abdullahi Sherrif, a member of the palliatives committee, said it has been the tradition of their leader to assist the vulnerable and the less privileged during the Ramadan fasting month.

He added: “Sheikh El-Zakzaky has always been giving out food to the less privileged when he was free and even now in detention, with Covid-19 and Ramadan, he has continued to do same. We are distributing these food items to cushion the hardship faced by Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike.

“We are distributing these food packs to 3,000 people in each state of the country, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. In ensuring that we adhere to medical experts advice on curbing the spread of the coronavirus, we will be distributing 600 bags daily.”

According to Sheikh Sherrif, the first batch of 600 beneficiaries in Kaduna are benefitting  from the packages which were distributed yesterday. Items distributed included a 10kg bag of rice, milk, sugar, macaroni, date palms, noodles and Milo drinks.