How Nigerian police forcefully suppressed pro-Sheikh Zakzaky's protesters; 3 killed & several injured, arrested

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, peacefully protesting the continued incarceration of their leader, were on Wednesday attacked by security operatives.

The operatives fired tear-gas and also shot in the air to disperse the peaceful protesters marching in Abuja. Many of them were eventually arrested.

Hundreds of IMN members at about 11.a.m took to the streets of Abuja chanting as they demanded the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky who has been in detention without trial since December 2015.

This is not the first time the group will be protesting in Abuja and other northern states against the incarceration of Mr. El-Zakzaky.

On Wednesday, the group started its procession from Garki, Area 10 and later headed to Area 1, also in Garki District of the Nigerian capital. They were ordered to stop the march by armed security operatives at the Moshood Abiola Road along Area 2 junction.

The insisted on continuing with their peaceful march, chanting ‘Free Zakzaky! Free Zakzaky!’

The police eventually fired tear gas and live bullets as they tried to disperse the group. This led to confusion among traders, motorists and residents of the area.

Some of the fleeing IMN members during the clash escaped with severe injuries.

A reinforcement from the Mobile Police Force Unit later stormed the scene and arrested some of the protesters in police vans.

The operatives, undeterred, were seen combing the area to arrest other fleeing protesters.

An IMN spokesperson said that the group, ”lost three members during the clash.” ABNA24 published the photos of the martyred protesters.

The group also accused the police of victimisation and harassment of its members during its peaceful procession.

Despite deep suppression and intense crackdown by police and security forces, the group on Tuesday vowed to continue its demand for the release of its leader.

Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested on December 14, 2015, following a clash between members of his group and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State. Over 300 members (some reports says 700 people) of the IMN were eventually killed by the soldiers, an act condemned by local and international rights groups.

The Nigerian regime has failed to release Mr. El-Zakzaky and his wife since then despite court rulings demanding such.

The police released the statement below explaining the attack on the IMN members.

IMN Protest: Police Arrest 52 Suspects in Abuja

The Nigerian police ridiculously claimed "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 10th January, 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 8th January, 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...

Meanwhile, the fifty-two (52) members of the El-Zakzaky group arrested by police operatives during 10th January, 2018 violent protest that left some policemen with injury will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation".

Like the previous crackdown (2 years ago), police did not present any evidences (photos and videos) that show protesters attacked police operatives or damaged vehicles . But there are hundreds of evidences (photos and videos) that show police savagely attacked peaceful protesters with live bullet and tear gas, which due to that hundreds severely injured and 3 protesters killed and many innocent people arrested.




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