Shiite Protest: Police Arrest 155 Suspects, Recover Catapults, Stones
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command on Monday declared that it has successfully restored normalcy in parts of Maitama district of Abuja following what it described as a violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
The police also said its operatives at the scene arrested 115 members of the sect, adding that a Joint Team of detectives from the Command. in conjunction with operatives from the IGP Monitoring Unit. have commenced investigation into the incident.
The FCT Police Command, however, said that contrary to speculations from some sections of the media, no life was lost in the violent protest as its operatives deployed to quell the protest were professional in handling the situation.
It said that arrested suspects are to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation. A statement by the FCT Police command stated that members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement went on rampage on Monday, April 16, 2018 during which they allegedly attacked innocent citizens, disrupted business activities, obstructed traffic movement and smashed windscreen of innocent citizens’ vehicles in the affected areas.
The Police statement which was issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, further said that following the incident which also resulted in the destruction of some government and Police operational vehicles, the members of the Shiite group also injured 22 police personnel during the protest.
Manzah said exhibits recovered from the Shiite members included; Catapults, Iron bars, Stones, Ball bearings and Pink head bands.
The FCT Police Command therefore warned members of Shiites movement to stop further disruption of the peace, harmony and free flow of traffic in the FCT.
It also urged members of the public, particularly parents not to allow their children or wards to be used as instrument of violence in any demonstration by any group that could jeopardise public peace and harmony.
The PPRO further said; “It is therefore imperative to state that anyone caught in the act of violent demonstration or any act capable of causing the breach of public peace will be made to face the wrath of the law.”
