WorldStage Newsonline– The FCT Command of the Nigeria Police said it had restored normalcy at parts of Maitama, Abuja following a violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Monday while 115 members of the sect were arrested at the scene.
The protesters were said to have attacked innocent citizens, disrupting business activities, obstructing traffic movement and smashing windscreen of innocent citizens’ vehicles in the affected areas.
According to a statement, the Police said following the unfortunate incident which also resulted in the destruction of some government and Police operational vehicles, 115 members of the sect were arrested at the scene, the members of the group also injured 22 police personnel.
The exhibits said to have been recovered from the protesters including, Catapults, Iron bars, Stones, Ball bearings, Pink head bands
“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 statement said.
“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.”
