Army ready to move against Shiites in Abuja - Guards brigade commander warns

Army ready to move against Shiites in Abuja - Guards brigade commander warns

- Following the incessant clash between officers of the Nigeria police and members of Shiite, Army has shown its commitment to protect the Nigeria's capital city

- The commander of the Guards Brigade said troops of the Nigerian Army are on standby to ensure law and order in the FCT

- According to Brigadier General Umar Musa, the Army has the right to secure the president, his family and residents of the FCT

The Nigerian Army has said that its personnel in Abuja are on standby over the continued clashes between officers of the Nigerian Police Force and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

The Army said it is ready to move against IMN members popularly known as Shiites over their violent protest within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Umar Musa, while speaking at the closing ceremony of the Corporal and Below Arms Drill and Endurance Competition in Abuja on Wednesday, May 16, said the Nigerian Army had the right to secure the president, his family and residents of the FCT.

Musa said: “Yes, we have the responsibility of providing security for Mr. President, his family and the FCT and environs. But as it is now, the ambit of the issue is within the purview of the Police and the Police have handled the situation well.

“The Guards Brigade is watching the developments very closely and our troops are on standby in case the situation gets out of hand," Musa noted.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the leader of the IMN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, was moved from the headquarters of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Abuja to Kaduna state.

The Shiite leader was subsequently arraigned in Kaduna high court amid tight security.

El-Zakzaky was arraigned alongside his wife, Zainab over charges bordering on murder and unlawful assembly.

A senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had criticised the federal government for the continued incarceration of El-Zakzaky.

According to Falana, the security forces breached the fundamental rights of the protesters and their leaders.

Falana said the federal government has not adduced any justifiable reason why it has continued to incarcerate Elzakzaky and his wife in utter contempt of the Federal High Court.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nnenna Ibeh avatar

Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com