NEWS
FCT Police Ban IMN Protests In Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has prohibited the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) from conducting any protest in the nation’s capital.
In a statement released on Monday night, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, warned that the banned organization, also known as Shi’ite, had plans to hold a procession to commemorate Ashura on the 2024 Islamic calendar.
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Adeh explained that past activities by the group often resulted in major disruptions in Abuja, leading to disorder and chaos.
The statement reads, “The command therefore urges any individual or member of the proscribed organization to refrain from or shun any intended form of protest or procession in the Nation’s Capital, as the command will not hesitate to use every legal means necessary to to halt or incapacitate anyone that dares violate the ban by the police.
“The command is committed to maintaining law and order and will take all necessary measures to prevent any activities that threaten the safety and well-being of the populace.”
It added “The commissioner of police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, reaffirms the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens while ensuring public safety.”
Adejuwon Soyinka, the West African editor of The Conversation Africa, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his arrest early Sunday morning at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Soyinka, a former pioneering editor of the BBC pidgin service, was detained upon his return from the UK in the early hours of sunday.
Initially, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya denied knowledge of Soyinka’s arrest.
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However, he later confirmed that the detention was carried out at the request of “another agency.”
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria intervened, leading to Soyinka’s release.
This incident is part of a troubling trend of increased security actions against journalists in Nigeria.
Recent cases include the March arrest of Segun Olatunji of FirstNews, the May detention of Daniel Ojukwu from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), and Jamil Mabai, a freelance journalist, by the Katsina Hisbah religious police.
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has also detained several journalists and whistleblowers in connection with various petitions.
On Sunday, police officers engaged in a confrontation with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, in the Wuse District of Abuja.
The clash, which started near Berger Roundabout, rapidly spread to the Wuse Market area and led to the burning of police vehicles.
The violence resulted in the deaths of two police officers and left three others hospitalized.
Shiite members attacked a police checkpoint at Wuse Junction with machetes, improvised explosive devices, and knives.
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FCT police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the unprovoked assault and disclosed that several individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.
FCT Commissioner of Police CP Benneth Igweh condemned the attack and vowed that those responsible will be held accountable. Authorities have since restored normalcy in the capital.
The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has detained Adejuwon Soyinka, a prominent Nigerian investigative journalist and Regional Editor for The Conversation Africa.
Soyinka was arrested early on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.
According to a distress message from a friend, Soyinka’s arrest was made without explanation, and he is being held incommunicado.
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The message reads, “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The incident happened around 5.40 am on Sunday, the 25th of August, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.
“As at the time of this report, no reason had been given for his detention by the security agency. Soyinka has not been reachable as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.”
Despite inquiries, the DSS has denied any knowledge of Soyinka’s detention.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya responded, “I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it.”
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