President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday warned that the protesting
members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, otherwise known as
Shi’ites, were testing the patience of the Federal Government with
their violent protests in Abuja.
He said the FG might be forced to act with maximum force to
defend the interest of the majority of Nigerians.
Reacting to the killing of Deputy Commissioner of Police Usman
Umar and National Youth Service Corps member, Precious Owolabi,
during Monday’s protest by the sect, Buhari called on any group
carrying out violent protests to stop now, else the government
would take decisive actions against them.
“Let nobody or group doubt or test our will to act in the higher
interest of the majority of our citizens,” a statement by his
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, quoted
Buhari as saying on Tuesday.
The President said he was deeply touched by the death of Umar
and Owolabi as he condoled with their families and the management
of Channels TV, where the corps member was attached to.
He described the two as “law-abiding, hard-working and vibrant
Nigerians with a promising future.”
Shi’ites continue protest in Abuja
Meanwhile, Police launched tear gas canisters and fired gunshots
to disperse members of the IMN who filled the streets of the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday in continuation of
their protest against the continued detention of their leader their
leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
El-Zakzaky has been detained by the Federal Government since
December 2015.
The IMN, popularly known as Shi’ites, on Monday, began their
protest to press home their demand.
But the protest turned violent, leading to the death of Umar and
Owolabi who was reporting for Channels TV. Two Shi’ites were
allegedly killed while two Assistant Superintendent of Police and
others got injured.
However, the IMN claimed 11 of their members were killed by
security forces with 30 injured.
However, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, who said
they arrested 54 protesters, claimed the Shi’ites shot dead
Umar.
Tuesday’s protest by the sect, which started from Banex Plaza in
the Wuse 2 area of the FCT, again halted economic activities in the
capital as many residents scampered to safety to avoid being caught
in the crossfire between security forces and the protesters.