On Thursday, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites, protested in Abuja, demanding the release of their leader Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, passports. The couple had previously been acquitted and discharged by a Kaduna high court.
The protest began at the Federal High Court in Maitama. Still, it ended quickly when a combined team of Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army dispersed the protesters with teargas near the Federal Secretariat’s Eagle Square. The security operatives arrived and opened fire on the protesters, causing commotion.
Several protesters sustained injuries of varying degrees, and some were lying unconscious on the ground after being hit by teargas canisters. It remains unclear whether any deaths occurred during the incident.
The IMN had previously directed its members to resume protests nationwide to demand the release of the passports seized by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the IMN and the Nigerian government, which has been ongoing since the arrest of the group’s leader and his wife in 2015. As always, it is crucial to maintain peace and order while advocating for justice and fairness.
