FCT Command arrests 400 Shiite members, 2 with 33 petrol bottles bomb

Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Tuesday arrested 400 members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Abuja for causing public disturbance and mayhem.

Two of the members, one Mustapha Abdullahi ‘m’ 20 years was arrested with 18 bottles of petrol bombs while Abdullahi Umar ‘m’ 22 years was caught with 13 bottles of petrol bombs.

FCT Police Commissioner Mr. Bala Ciroma, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, said the police has intensified efforts to provide residents of the Federal Capital Territory with adequate security.

He informed that in the process of ensuring the protection of lives and property and prevent any breakdown of law and order, it has intercepted and arrested some members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria with thirty-one bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons that were being ferried into FCT.

Ciroma said the arrested persons were members of IMN whose intent was to cause mayhem and attack innocent citizens including law enforcement agents deployed to protect lives and property.

“It is also unfortunate to inform you that members of this group during a violent protest on 30th October, 2018 without any provocation went on rampage and burnt down a Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle deployed at Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent,” the CP stated.

He said that some arrests have however been made and investigation is in progress.

According to him, the highlight of the arrests is as follows: “On 30th October, 2018 at about 1230hrs police operatives on stop and search duty along Tipper garage Katampe intercepted

and arrested one Mustapha Abdullahi ‘m’ 20 years of Ungwan Gwari Suleja with eighteen (18) bottles of petrol bombs carefully concealed in a travelling bag with intent to smuggle himself and the petrol bombs into the city,.

The suspect had disguised as a passenger and boarded a taxi with other unsuspecting passengers. He ran out of luck when the vigilant policemen on duty at the point upon reasonable suspicion intercepted the cab and conduct a search on the only bag in the car, which had in it the improvised bomb.

Upon the discovery, the suspect was immediately arrested. Other exhibits recovered from the suspect include two lighters and one dagger.

He said the suspect will be arraigned in court after investigation.

Similarly, on the same date at about 1130hrs, police operatives on stop and search at Dakwa FCT-Niger Boundary arrested one Abdullahi Umar ‘m’ 22 years of Gadan Karte, Illela LGA of Sokoto State with a bag containing thirteen (13) well packaged bottles of petrol bomb.

He said the suspect has confessed during interrogation that he arrived Suleja from Sokoto State on Sunday to join other members of their sect for the protest. He also confessed that he was ferrying the petrol bomb to FCT to confront law enforcement agents.

A lighter was also recovered from the suspect. He will also be arraigned in court after investigation.

While reassuring FCT residents of adequate security, Ciroma said that a total of 400 members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who participated in the violent protest of on Tuesday are currently being detained for discreet investigation.

He said that dangerous weapons were also recovered from them.

Also arrested is their first aider one Salahuddeen Ahmad ‘m’ 23 years of Illela LGA of Sokoto State.