Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, were on Monday in Abuja teargassed and brutalised by the anti-riot policemen during a protest seeking their leader’s freedom.
The protest, which took off from Sky Memorial in the Wuse district of the nation’s capital, was disrupted at Wuse Market following the arrival of armed police officers who fired teargas and live ammunition at the crowd.
The policemen allegedly harassed, beat up and removed the veils and hijab of the female protesters in the process. Many protesters were injured.
WATCH: Again, @PoliceNG Attack #FreeZakzaky Protesters In Abuja pic.twitter.com/0hhWmeWlpV
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 19, 2021
The Secretary Academic Forum of the movement, Abdullahi Musa, also confirmed the incident, saying that they would not abandon the struggle for the release of their leader irrespective of intimidation from the security agents.
He said, “The police harassed so many innocent people during our peaceful protest today, including passersby, mostly women, and they removed their hijab.
“We do not rely on anyone other than Allah, and even if we are torn into pieces a thousand times, we would never abandon our leader and the struggle for his freedom from unlawful detention.”
