Shi’ites: Police reject Amnesty International’s report

The Nigeria Police Force has rejected the alleged Amnesty
International Nigeria report on the use of force against members of
the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as shi’ites.

The organisation had alleged in its report on Wednesday that the
police and military used deadly force against IMN members.

It also said that security forces must be held responsible for
killing 45 members of the group.

NAN also report that members of the sect had been protesting the
detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky since 2015
after a clash with the Chief of Army Staff’s convoy.

A statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood on
Thursday in Abuja, said the allegation against the police was
false.

“The Nigeria police force wishes to state categorically that the
allegation against the police by the Amnesty International is in
its entirety untrue,” he said.

Moshood said that the report also alleged that the military
dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without
warning.

The spokesman said that the report was a clear misrepresentation
and absolute distortion of facts to divert attention from the
heinous crimes committed by the IMN members.

He said that the group had carried out a provocative attack on
police personnel and set ablaze a patrol vehicle in the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday.

Moshood said that in spite of the provocation from the members
of the group, the force resisted the use of maximum force on
them.

“To set the record straight, there was no report of death in any
police station in the FCT from the police intervention and quelling
of the disturbance of public peace and public safety.

“The Force sees the Amnesty International allegation against the
police as deliberate and desperate attempt to cast aspersions on
the investigation and ongoing prosecution of the arrested members
of the group,” he said.

He said the force would not be deterred from carrying its
statutory duties nor condone lawlessness by any group under any
disguise.

Moshood said that force would continue to operate within the
ambit of the law and ensure the diligent prosecution of the
arrested members of the group in Abuja.

He implored members of the public to disregard and
discountenance the allegation by Amnesty International.( NAN)