Nigeria to allow detained Shi'ite Muslim leader to seek medical treatment abroad

Members of security forces stand guard outside a court that is set to rule on Shi'ite leader Zakzaky's bail application, in Kaduna, Nigeria August 5, 2019. REUTERS/Garba Muhammad

KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian judge ruled on Monday that the detained leader of a banned Nigerian Shi'ite Muslim group could seek medical treatment abroad, after a series of protests calling for his release turned violent last month.

Nigeria banned the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in July after a week of protests in which the group said at least 20 of its members were killed in police crackdowns. Police gave no death toll.