Shiite Protest: Police Restore Normalcy, Recover Catapult, Stones in Abuja
The FCT Police Command restored normalcy at parts of Maitama following a violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who went on rampage on Monday, 16th April, 2018 and were attacking innocent citizens, disrupting business activities, obstructing traffic movement and smashing windscreen of innocent citizens’ vehicles in the affected areas.
Following the unfortunate incident which also resulted in the destruction of some government and Police operational vehicles, the members of the Shiite group also injured twenty-two (22) police personnel during the protest.
Exhibits recovered:
i. Catapults
ii. Iron bars
iii. Stones
iv. Ball bearings
v. Pink head bands
One hundred and fifteen (115) members of the sect were arrested at the scene by Police operatives. Joint Team of detectives from the Command in conjunction with operatives from the IGP Monitoring Unit have commenced investigation into the incident. The arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.
The FCT Police Command hereby warn members of Shiites movement from further disrupting the peace, harmony and free flow of traffic in FCT.
This is to also to urge the 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. 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.
Meanwhile, the Command wishes to state that contrary to speculations from some sections of the media, no life was lost in the violent protest as the Police operatives deployed to quell the protest were professional in handling the situation.
DSP Anjuguri Manzah
Police Public Relations Officer
For: The Commissioner of Police
FCT Police Command
Abuja
I beg to disagree with your report on the Shiite protest. It was the police in the first place that prevented the Shiites from holding their daily sit out at Unity Fountain after laying on the place. They then open fire on the procession killing one and injuring scores. To ascribe rampage and attack on civilians to the Shiites is grossly unfair. They have been protesting peacefully for close to a hundred days with no incident, until the police attack them. I hope you will query your reporter on the story.