The FCT Police Command said it has arrested 400 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) following Tuesday clashes in the city centre.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Bala Ciroma at a press briefing, added that 31 bottles of petrol bombs and other dangerous weapons were also recovered from two of the suspects at different areas of the capital city.
He confirmed that during a protest at Wuse 2 area on Tuesday, members of the group “without any provocation went on rampage and burnt down a Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle deployed at Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent”.
Ciroma said one of the two suspects arrested with petrol bombs, Mustapha Abdullahi, 20, of Ungwan Gwari, Suleja of Niger State, had in his possession 18 bottles of the explosives, two lighters and a dagger.
He was reportedly arrested at Tipper Garage, Katampe area of Abuja after the taxi he boarded was stopped by policemen on stop and search patrol.
The other suspect, Abdullahi Umar, 22 of Gadan Karte, Illela LGA of Sokoto State, was reportedly arrested at Dakwa FCT-Niger Boundary with 13 bottles of petrol bombs.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he arrived Suleja from Sokoto State on Sunday to join other members of the sect for the protest. He also confessed that he was ferrying the petrol bomb to FCT to confront law enforcement agents.
“While reassuring FCT residents of adequate security, I want to also bring to your knowledge that a total of 400 members of El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who participated in the violent protest of today (Tuesday) are currently being detained for discreet investigations; dangerous weapons were also recovered from them.
“Also arrested is their first aider, one Salahudeen Ahmad, 23, of Illela LGA of Sokoto State. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation,” the CP said.
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