FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 52 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiite, following what it describes as a violent protest in Abuja.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah, on Wednesday said those arrested would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

The Shiites members had trooped out in the Garki area of the FCT in continuation of their demonstrations against the detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The police claimed that the group’s members went on a rampage and attacked innocent citizens as well as police operatives.

The command added that it recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapults allegedly used by the group to attack police personnel.

It said the action of the group constituted a security threat to the peace of the FCT and business activities in the nation’s capital.

Read full statement below

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 foregoing, 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 52 members of the El-Zakzaky group arrested by police operatives during today’s (January 10, 2018) violent protest that left some policemen with injury will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.  –  Channels

Jan. 11, 2018 @ 11:00 GMT /