Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shiite group, has denied a report by Federal Capital Territory Police Command, claiming that its members killed a security operative and injured two during a clash that occurred on Friday.
IMN also said that some yet to be ascertained persons among the group were killed by security agents, adding that 380 armless members, including women and children, were arrested and being detained by police.
Recall that FCT Command’s Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Friday, said that the Shiites members were armed with firearms, cutlasses, catapults, sticks, stones, and petrol bombs.
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She added that the confrontation led to intense gunfire, leaving two security operatives severely injured and one confirmed dead at the National Hospital.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Abuja, the Resource Forum of IMN, led by Prof. Abdullahi Danladi, alleged that security agents were hiding the bodies of those killed in unknown locations.
He said: “The police might have said they arrested 19 of our members but reliable information confirmed that the Guard Brigade and the police arrested 380 protesters, including women and children, and six people were confirmed martyred.
READ MORE: One Killed, Two Injured, 19 Arrested As Shiites, Security Operatives Clash In Abuja
“Those arrested are being detained at SARS Abbator, Guzape, Abuja, and those that reached martyrdom include Shaheed Ibraheem Dalhat (Sharif Albani), Shaheed Nasir Abubakar, Shaheed Abdulaziz Abubakar, and Shaheed Auwal Abbas Bichi among others.
“They said we came with dangerous weapons, they have every reason to say what they want to say to defend their crimes.
“But it is a known fact that the IMN has been carrying out our activities for over 40 years. Whenever we gather, we gather and disperse peacefully, but it is only when the police or security operatives attack us that you hear about casualties.
“We don’t kill or injure security operatives. In fact, it is not in our character rather we fight for their rights and those of the citizens. We don’t kill or injure anybody, we make life easier for everybody.”
