The unending protest of the members of the Islamic Movement of
Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as the Shiites has claimed the life a top
police officer with the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
PRNigeria reports Monday evening that the deceased was Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, DCP Umar Usman.
DCP Umar was killed by the protesters while trying to prevent the
hostile action of destruction of property at the axis of the federal
secretariat and three arms zone.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up at the Force headquarters to
prevent reprisal attacks over the arrest of scores of the protesters who
are demanding the release of the spiritual sect leader, Sheikh Ibraheem
El Zakzaky.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi Musa, the Secretary of IMN Academic Forum, has blamed the Police for the fatal clash.
He told newsmen in an interview: “Security forces led by the
Nigeria Police shot at our members, and injured many others. I can
confirm to you that, we have carried away six dead bodies belonging to
our members.
“The security agents also lifted some corpses to unknown
destinations. We are yet to account for some of our members who came out
to protest today. We believe the number of casualties may increase
before today ends.”
The IMN scribe also dismissed claims that members of the Islamic
group provoked the police through undue confrontation before the
shootings began.
“Our protest began from NITEL junction through Ahmadu Belli Way to
the Federal Secretariat. On our arrival, we were still prepping to pray
and disperse peacefully before live ammunitions were released at our
members to forcefully send us home. We were unarmed. We couldn’t have
confronted armed policemen,” he added.
He accused security operatives of masterminding the vandalisation of
public properties after the shootings to win public sympathy.
He said, “No member of our movement was involved in the setting
ablaze of vehicles and the outpost of NEMA ablaze as alleged. But we
know the authorities have been making frantic efforts to blackmail us
and sway the public sympathy against IMN and Sheikh El-Zakzaky.
“We are aware the police have been sending paid agents in plain
clothes to infiltrate our meetings and disturb public peace in the name
of IMN. But the Nigerian people are already frustrated and oppressed by
this administration. The government can’t get the public sympathy they
are desire, because its agents are committing crimes against humanity.”