…Says our members don’t carry arms
ABUJA— The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, popularly known as Shi’ites has denied the claim by the Nigeria Police Force that it attacked its personnel and innocent Nigerians during Monday’s clash, insisting that its members do not carry arms.
The Shiites said this in a reaction to the claim by the police that its member shot and killed Deputy Commissioner of Police in FCT, Usman Umar while two others sustained injury.
Frank Mba, Police Spokesperson, had said, “The heavily armed protesters, defying all sense of decency violently attacked innocent citizens and police personnel on duty. In the process, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, FCT Command, DCP Usman A.K Umar, was shot and fatally injured by the protesters.
“The officer, who was immediately rushed to the hospital died moments later while receiving treatment.
“Also, two Assistant Superintendents of Police and a member of staff of Channels Television sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment.”
Ibrahim Musa, President of Media Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, stated that the protest was going peacefully until the protesters got to federal secretariat, Abuja, where the police had cordoned off the area and subsequently opened fire on them.
He said, “A lot of people have been shot but for now we can only confirm 11 deaths, but several are injured, the figure, for now, stands at 30.”
The Movement added that the security agents had been going around taking off those they killed from the streets.
They also denied claims by the police that its members bore arms at the protest saying, “throughout our processions, we have not been carrying any arms right from 2015 to date.”
They also blamed the police for the death of Owolabi and other innocent people killed by stray bullets from personnel of the Nigerian Police Force.
Our correspondents had earlier reported a clash between the Shi’ites, and the police on Monday, where the former were protesting to demand the release of its detained leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
