The police say they arrested 400 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during a violent protest in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bala Ciroma, federal capital territory (FCT) police commissioner, also said 31 bottles of petrol bomb were recovered from the IMN members during the clash which occurred in Wuse area of Abuja.
Reports had emerged of how the IMN members better known as Shi’ites clashed with policemen during a protest to demand the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, their leader.
A police patrol vehicle was burnt during the outbreak of violence, the third of its kind within the nation’s capital in the last 72 hours.
Addressing a press conference, Ciroma said two of the protesters were arrested while “attempting to smuggle the petrol bombs into the city.”
He identified them as Mustapha Abdullahi, arrested with a bag containing 18 bottles of the bombs, and Abdullahi Umar, arrested with a bag containing 13 of them.
He said: “It is also unfortunate to inform you that members of this group (IMN) during a violent protest, today, 30th October, 2018 without any provocation went on rampage and burnt down a Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle deployed at Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent.
“While reassuring FCT residents of adequate security, I want to also bring to your knowledge that a total of Four hundred (400) members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who participated in the violent protest of today are currently being detained for discreet investigation; dangerous weapons were also recovered from them.
“Also arrested is their first aider one Salahuddeen Ahmad ‘M’ 23 Yrs of Illela LGA of Sokoto State.”
He said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
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