52 members of the El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have been arrested for protesting against the imprisonment of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The attempt at freeing their leader was halted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Wednesday. Before this El-Zakzaky had been imprisoned for the last 2 years with no trial.
Following the arrest the police were able to confiscate dangerous items in the hands of the protesters in the form of improvised petrol-bombs, stones and catapults.
Anjuguri Manzah, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) made the arrests based on the fact the suspects had harmed civilians and police during the protest.
The protesters had numbered more than 100 and had begun their march in Garki Area 10 and ended along Moshood Abiola Road in Area 2 where they were confronted by police.
The police fired tear gas canisters at the crowd whilst they attacked back with rocks.
The police statement read thus: “Following the violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) group who went on rampage and were attacking innocent citizens including Police operatives on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, the FCT Police Command has arrested some members of the sect and recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles.
It is pertinent to state that the unlawful action of members of the sect, which started on Monday, January 8, 2018 is constituting a serious security threat to the peace of the Federal Capital Territory and at the same time disrupting innocent citizens from going about their lawful businesses.
In view of the current security situation in the Country, the Command wishes to unequivocally state that while it will continue to be professional in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory roles of the protection of lives and property of the good people of FCT; and equally recognise the rights of citizens to express their lawful grievances, the command will not fold its arms and watch some persons hold the capital city to ransom by disrupting government and legitimate business activities.
In view of the forgoing, the command wants to state that any person or group of persons arrested for violating the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution while registering their protest will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the appropriate section(s) of the law.
Meanwhile, the fifty-two (52) members of the El-Zakzaky group arrested by police operatives during today 10th January, 2018 violent protest that left some policemen with injury will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.”
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