Dwelleth Morountodun
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Mr. Bala Ciroma, on Tuesday said 400 El-Zakzakky members
involved in violent protest in Abuja are currently being detained by the police for discreet investigation.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, in Abuja over the several protests which had rocked the FCT since Saturday, Ciroma, assured residents of adequate protection and safety of lives and property.
He said: “The FCT Police in furtherance with its continuous effort to provide residents of the FCT with adequate security, protect lives and property and prevent any breakdown of law and order has intercepted and arrested some members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
“Members were arrested with thirty-one bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons being ferried into FCT by their members to cause mayhem and attack innocent citizens including law enforcement agents deployed to protect lives and property.”
Ciroma, said it is also unfortunate to inform you that members of the group are carrying out the protest without any provocation, adding that they went on rampage and burnt down a Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle deployed at Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent. Some arrests have however been made and investigation is in progress, he added.
While throwing more highlights, he said: “On 30th at about 1230hrs police operatives on stop and search duty along Tipper garage Katampe intercepted and arrested one Mustapha Abdullahi, of Ungwan Gwari Suleja with 18 bottles of petrol bombs carefully concealed in a travelling bag. To smuggle himself and the petrol bombs into the city, he 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. The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
“Similarly, on the same date at about 1130hrs, police operatives on stop and search at Dakwa FCT-Niger Boundary arrested one Abdullahi Umar, of Gadan Karte, Illela LGA of Sokoto State with a bag containing 13 well packaged bottles of petrol bomb. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he arrived Suleja from Sokoto state on Sunday to join other members of their sect for the protest.”
According to him, they both confessed that they were ferrying the petrol bomb to FCT to confront law enforcement agents.