The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Wednesday arrested 52 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shiites, after they “went on rampage and were attacking innocent citizens including Police operatives.”

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, who announced this on Wednesday, said the Police “recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack Police operatives and damage Police operational vehicles.”

He said in a statement: “It is pertinent to state that the unlawful action of members of the sect, which started on Monday, January 8, 2018 is constituting a serious security threat to the peace of the Federal Capital Territory, and at the same time disrupting innocent citizens from going about their lawful businesses.

“In view of the current security situation in the country, the Command wishes to unequivocally state that, while it will continue to be professional in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory roles of the protection of lives and property of the good people of FCT and equally recognise the rights of citizens to express their lawful grievances, the Command will not fold its arms and watch some persons hold the capital city to ransom by disrupting government and legitimate business activities.

“In view of the foregoing, the Command wants to state that any person or group of persons arrested for violating the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution while registering their protest will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the appropriate section(s) of the law.”

DSP Manzah said the arrested Shiites “will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.”

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