Members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, (IMN) have confirmed they held Tuesday’s protest at the Wuse Ultra-Modern Market in Abuja.
The group also says 30 of its members were missing after a previous protest at the Central Business District in Abuja on Monday.
The Shiites began a second day of protest at the market, Tuesday afternoon, to challenge the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, for whose release they had protested on Monday.
Mr. El-Zakzaky was arrested shortly after a clash between Shiite members and the Nigerian
Army in December 2015 and has neither been released nor arraigned by the Nigerian
government, despite court orders for his release.
A similar protest on Monday by the group resulted in a clash with officials of the
Nigerian police, with the police confirming the arrest of 115 Shiite members.
Although the Police denied any casualties during Monday’s protest, a leader of the group,
Abdullahi Musa, said a member was shot in the head, resulting in a serious brain injury
on Monday. He added that the affected Shiite member was rushed to Kano for further
treatment.
“One of us was shot in the head yesterday. His brain came out. He is currently being
rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
“The police said they arrested 115 of our members, but 145 of us were the number that got
missing; and I saw a van with my eyes that carried some people from among us, who looked
dead, the way they were being carried. I saw them with my eyes,” said Mr. Abdullahi.
“30 of our members, now are yet to be accounted for,” he added.
Mr. Musa further said that although he cannot tell how many members were arrested on
Tuesday, three trucks of IMN members were taken away by police officers at the Wuse
Ultra-modern market, Abuja.
“I saw them take three truck load of our members today. They however did not use life
ammunition today, except sticks and teargas. I myself was badly beaten with sticks by the
police,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
