Abuja – No fewer than thirty members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were arrested on Monday in Abuja when a detachment of anti-riot policemen fired teargas canisters to disperse a peaceful protest organised by the group in Abuja.
The protesters were demanding the release of their spiritual leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who have been in custody since 2015.
The protest, which began from the Unity Fountain was heading toward the National Assembly en route Federal Secretariat when the procession was disrupted by anti-riot policemen who fired teargas canisters at the protesters, causing pandemonium, as people scurried for safety.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions ‘Buhari Free Zakzaky’, amongst others.
Several members of the Movement were beaten to pulp with gun butts while others were arrested and whisked away in police patrol vans.
Some of the members of the Movement were seen running into different offices at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja as they gasped for air.
Some of them collapsed following the teargas and were bundled into waiting vans by the police.
The group has raised alarm on the deteriorating health condition of their leader who is still in detention, and accused the government of being insensitive.
The group is demanding the release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been in the custody of Department State Services (DSS) since December 2015 after a bloody clash between the group and convoy of the Chief Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, who claimed the sect members made an attempt on his life, while on their way to Kaduna for the annual Ashura day.
