(SINL NIGERIA) The Islamic Movement, also known as Shiites, on Thursday, raised alarm over alleged continuous detention of their members in SARS office at Abattoir, Garki in Abuja, following the August 25, 2024 Abra’een Symbolic Trek which resulted in violence.
Shaikh Sidi Munir Mainasara, who stated this in a statement on behalf of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of His Eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H), alleged that babies, nursing mothers and underage are among those still being detained.
“Available information reaching us from the parents of people arrested during the 2024 Abuja Abra’een Symbolic Trek confirmed to us that their family members are still being detained by Peter Ukachi Opara, the FCT Commissioner of Police at SARS Abattoir.
“The police have detained more than 100 people at the notorious police detention facility, SARS Abattoir, Garki, by Guzape Junction, Abuja.
“Those being detained by the police since Sunday, 25 August 2024, include 55 women and underage, 2 babies, 2 nursing women, passersby, hawkers, Arbaeen Mourners, etc.
“The babies being detained at SARS Abattoir by the police for more than one month are Muhammad Jamil, baby boy of 9 months old and Amina Yusuf, baby girl of 11 months old.
“We believe that this is an unlawful detention, because no court of law in Nigeria could grant police an order to detain babies,” he said.
According to him, we earlier petitioned the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, the European Union, and the United Nations for the unlawful arrest and detention of more than 100 people.
“We have also reported to the public within and outside the country how the police abuse Muslim sisters while in detention, and some of the abuses were captured by a one-minute, twenty-one-second video taken by a police officer within the premises of the FCT Police Command and the video shows how the police forcefully removed the hijab of our Muslim sisters while in police detention.
” The Muslim Sisters were arrested on Sunday, 25 August, while on a religious procession in commemoration of the assassination of Imam Hussaini (AS), grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
“Hijab has a rich history and significance in Islam, with roots in the Qur’an and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
“Peter Ukachi Opara, FCT CP, should note that forceful removal of hijab is an abuse not to the Muslim Sisters arrested but to entire Muslims and blasphemy against Islam.
“We demand an end to the violation of rights of Muslim sisters and all those arrested.
“We also demand the unconditional release of all those arrested,” Mainasara said.
