8 killed, 57 IMN members arrested for rioting in Abuja (Video)

September 28, 2021

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Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD

The FCT Police Command on Tuesday arrested 57 suspected members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) for rioting with petrol bombs, weapons, bags of stones, others in Gwarimpa area of Abuja Tuesday afternoon.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of Abuja Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine.

Speaking to newsmen, she said, “The FCT Police Command in a joint intervention with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies have restored normalcy to the Gwarinpa area of the FCT and other parts of the Capital where miscreants identified to be members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites, who caused unnecessary hardship to motorists and other road users as well as individuals going about their businesses.

“The miscreants who were found in their numbers were promptly intercepted by the security operatives and dispersed to prevent them from causing further disruption of public order and peace and damage to public and private assets. The miscreants attacked the security forces with petrol bombs, weapons including stones but were adequately rounded up by the security teams without any casualties.

“A total of fifty-seven (57) suspects including thirty-nine (39) and eighteen female (18) were arrested and currently being profiled at the State Criminal Investigations Department of the FCT Police Command. A vehicle, flags, petrol bombs, weapons, mobile phones, charms etc are some of the exhibits recovered from the miscreants.

“The Command, while calling on residents to be calm, warns any individual or group who may want to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the Capital to desist or be ready to face the consequences of their actions. Residents and commuters are also advised to go about their lawful endeavours without any fear or apprehension.” The statement read.

In his response, spokesperson of IMN, Ibrahim Musa speaking exclusively to Neptune Prime said, “Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s followers lost a peaceful male demonstrator today (Tuesday), in Abuja by the combination of Army, Police and Civil Defence operatives.

“Sheikh Zakzaky’s followers started an Arba’een procession from the gate of Gwarinpa model city to the main bus stop, where it was terminated. Those who attended had even begun to disperse. Then arrived the team of the joint security agents with all sorts of savagery.

“They doused people with tear-gas, started shooting live ammunition, gunning down many.

Eight were confirmed dead, tens of scores injured and numerous arrested. They even carted away some corpses to an unknown location.” He said.

According to Wikipedia, Arba’een means forty in Arabic as forty days is the traditional length of mourning after the death of a family member or loved one in Muslim traditions. Imam Hussein was killed at the Battle of Karbala in central Iraq on 10 October 680 AD.

Arbaʽeen, Chehellom is a Shiite religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Al-Husayn ibn Ali (Imam Hussain), the grandson of Muhammad, who was martyred on the 10th day of the month of Muharram.