Following Monday’s clash between the Police and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiites, over the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has call for caution to avoid escalation.
About eight persons including a senior Police Officer were killed and scores injured during the clash, the second in two weeks.
The Executive Director of CASER, Frank Tietie, said there is an urgent need to fully equip the Nigeria Police Force with proper gadgets and kits to enable them undertake the management of civil disturbances and riots with minimal casualties on all sides.
“Protests need not be violent. The goal of a protest or peaceful rally is to draw attention to a cause and not to create civic disturbances or riots with tendencies of becoming violent leading to destruction of life and property.
“DCP Umar has been described by some of his colleagues as an excellent gentleman who applied professional standards in his conduct and operations as a senior police officer. He was reported to have been hit by a bullet in the head, in the line of duty while attempting to pacify the protesters today in Abuja.
“CASER condoles with the Nigerian Police community at this moment of grief and calls on the Inspector General of Police to launch a thorough investigation to uncover those behind the heinous violence which occurred during the protest,” Tietie said.
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