Leadnaija
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shi’ites, has demanded the immediate release of its detained members, warning that it will take legal action against the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army if they are not freed.
The group, through its legal team, disclosed that over 274 members, including more than 60 minors, are currently being detained under harsh conditions following a deadly clash with security forces during their International Quds Day procession in Abuja on March 28, 2025.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, IMN’s legal representatives, Bala Dakum and Yushau Uthman, decried what they described as unlawful and inhumane detention of their clients, vowing to seek justice through the courts.
“This is the only option available to us. We cannot resort to violence; we must follow due legal process by approaching the courts,” Dakum said.
He stressed that the group is particularly concerned about the injured members and minors who remain in detention.
“We hope that reason prevails and they are released as soon as possible, especially the injured and the children among them. Ultimately, we seek the release of all those detained.”
Also, IMN accused the military of opening fire on its members without provocation during their peaceful procession in the Banex area of Wuse II, Abuja.
“Our clients came out on March 28, 2025, to commemorate their annual International Quds Day like their counterparts across the globe. While peacefully carrying out their procession in Abuja, they were unexpectedly confronted by a group of armed soldiers who, without any provocation, began firing live ammunition at them,” Dakum alleged.
According to him, the attack left at least 26 people dead, over 30 others with life-threatening injuries, and 274 members arrested.
The legal team also criticized the Nigerian Police for detaining the arrested members at the now-defunct SARS facility in Abattoir, Garki, Abuja, under conditions they described as “harsh and dehumanizing.”
“Despite their dire conditions, they were coerced into writing or signing statements in police custody without legal representation, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015,” Dakum revealed.
He further condemned the detention of over 60 minors, stating that they are being held in the same cells as individuals suspected of committing heinous crimes, a clear violation of both the ACJA 2015 and the Child Rights Act.
IMN also accused security agencies of withholding the bodies of members allegedly killed in the clash, preventing them from giving their dead proper Islamic burials.
“The corpses are now being kept in undisclosed hospitals, which contravenes Islamic rites that require prompt and immediate burial,” Dakum stated.
“This is baffling, considering that the deceased cannot be investigated or tried.”
The Nigerian Army and Police are yet to officially respond to the allegations
