Shi’ite protesters stormed Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to overturn the travel ban imposed on Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

An international passport release for El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah, for a medical vacation was asked by the demonstrators, who were reportedly devotees of the Shi’ite leader.

An application Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky submitted to the Department of State Services requesting the release of his and his wife’s passports was denied earlier on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled that the Islamic cleric failed to prove that his passport was missing, despite the 10 exhibits provided by his lawyers, to prove that the DSS took the passports away, after his return from India in 2018.

The protesters were seen holding banners and placards that read, “Buhari must remove the travel ban on Sheikh El-Zakzaky.”

There have also been unconfirmed reports of shootings at the protests.