In the wake of a violent confrontation in Abuja last Sunday, tensions have escalated as the FCT Police Command arrested 94 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites.
The clash resulted in the deaths of two police officers, injuries to four others, including a female officer, and the destruction of three vehicles by fire.
The incident has raised concerns about the fragile peace in the nation’s capital.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Igweh, has labeled the IMN a proscribed terrorist organization and defended the arrests, asserting that the group had no legal right to assemble. He emphasized that the suspects were heavily armed, with weapons such as blood-stained cutlasses and knives, allegedly used to attack law enforcement officers.
The police command’s swift action has sparked debate among observers, with some questioning the broader implications of the IMN’s continued presence despite being officially banned.
The Commissioner, however, remained resolute, promising to bring all those involved to justice and to continue the search for other members and sponsors of the group.
As the situation unfolds, the arrests have highlighted ongoing tensions between the IMN and Nigerian authorities, raising critical questions about the balance between security measures and the right to peaceful assembly.
CP Igweh reiterated that the command’s priority is maintaining order in the FCT, but the incident has reignited discussions about the handling of groups considered a threat to national security.
With the suspects set to be charged in court, the outcome of this case is likely to have significant repercussions for how such confrontations are managed in the future.