The Federal Capital Territory Police has banned further gathering of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites in Abuja for whatever reasons, saying that the group’s assembly have been used in the past to molest innocent FCT residents and engage in protests leading to destruction of properties.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anjuguri Mamza, said the police decided not to allow further unapproved meetings of the Shi’ite members in any part of the territory after the latest protest turned violent and left several policemen with injuries.
He said in a telephone interview that police road-blocks, which sprang up again at entry and exit points in the Federal Capital Territory and increased patrol teams will complement existing military check-points to prevent another protest by members of the Shi’ite group in Abuja.
Mamza also said that the Police will intensify stop and search operations on streets, appealing to residents to bear the little inconveniences that may arise from the increased security measures since it was necessary for safety of lives and properties in the territory.
He recalled that this week’s protest by Shi’ite members led to injuries on some residents of the territory caught unawares by the protest while several vehicle windscreens were destroyed by the protesting youths who defied police tear gas and threw stones on car glasses.
The latest clash between the police and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) was restricted around the Federal Secretariat complex, Abuja which also serves as entrance to the National Assembly. The riot was the third in almost one month since the youths, protesting the continuous detention of Shi’ite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, moved their demonstration to the Federal Capital Territory.
Mamza confirmed that 22 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), who were arrested recently during an earlier violent clash with the Nigeria police in Abuja, have been charged to a magistrate court and were granted bail.
About 50 demonstrating youths, he said, were arrested in the latest confrontation by the police and will also be charged to court for criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting and causing grievous harm, amongst other charges.
It would be recalled that during the latest protest by the Shi’ite members, several vehicles were vandalised while pedestrians, workers and commuters in vehicles passing through the protest area were molested by stone-throwing youths despite two police tear-gas and water-canon trucks brought to the area to disperse them.
The Divisional Crime officer, Federal Secretariat Police Station, Mr. Linus Ogar, was allegedly injured by the Shi’ites and was taken to hospital for treatment, according to eyewitnesses.
