‘Two injured’ as police clash with Shi’ites in Abuja

Two members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) reportedly sustained injured during a protest in Abuja on Friday.

The IMN members staged the protest to press for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, their leader.

They had converged on the Central Area 1 part of Abuja and later were later heading towards the Unity Fountain but were confronted by police officers who denied them access to the fountain.

The Shi’ites, however, did not turn back as some of them tried to push their way through.

During the confrontation, the police officers reportedly fired shots and teargas at the protesters to disperse them.

One of the protesters collapsed but was later revived by his colleagues. The protesters dispersed but re-converged on the Maittama area of the city.

The federal capital territory police command could not confirm the incident when contacted.

Anjugurijesse Manzah, spokesman of the command, told TheCable that a statement would be issued later.

“Give me time, we will come up with an official statement, he told TheCable on phone.

On December 2, 2016, an Abuja court ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release Zakzaky and Zainab Elzakzaky, his wife, from custody, but the duo have remained in custody since then.

Femi Falana, human Rights lawyer recently wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari calling for the release of Zakzaky.

The lawyer had said the federal government’s refusal to release the duo creates a “dangerous impression that the federal government does not operate under the rule of law.”