According to sources, the young Nigerians were only brought to court on Wednesday, highlighting the delays and inefficiencies in the Nigerian justice system.
No fewer than 31 young Nigerians who were arrested on August 25, 2024, for their alleged involvement in a Shi'a protest in Abuja, were finally arraigned in court on Wednesday.
The FCT Command of the Nigerian police had detained them for over four months without trial, sparking concerns about the country's justice system.
According to sources, the young Nigerians were only brought to court on Wednesday, highlighting the delays and inefficiencies in the Nigerian justice system.
"These young Nigerians were arrested and detained since 25th August, 2024 by the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police on alleged involving in Shi’a protest in Abuja and they were only brought to court today," a source told SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
On August 25, 2024, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly called Shiites, clashed with the Police in the Wuse District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
WATCH: Shiites Protest: Nigerian Police Detain 31 Youths In Abuja Since August, Finally Arraign Them Wednesday pic.twitter.com/fDVyCA2CGX
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 11, 2024
The confrontation led to the death of two policemen and a civilian.
Several other protesters sustained various degrees of injuries and three police vehicles were burned.
The then FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, had said the Shiites “have declared total war on us”, adding that, “This is the last protest or procession they will carry out in FCT”.
Checks by SaharaReporters showed that since former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Sunni Muslim became took over the Presidency of Nigeria in 2015, Shia Muslims have been repressed by the security agencies in efforts to prevent them from exercising their religious beliefs.
The clash or perhaps attack on Shiite Muslim on August apparently, was not the first as the Shiites have a history of clashes with Nigeria’s security forces.
On Friday, April 5, 2024, over four people died while 20 sustained various degrees of injuries when they clashed with police operatives during a procession to mark the International Qud’s Day in Kaduna.
Over 300 members of the group were illegally executed in a most savagery by the Nigerian military under the then army chief, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, in Kaduna State.