Arba’een Trek Fallout: Shi’ites accuse military of blasphemy, torture, illegal detention
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, known as Shi’ites, have accused the Nigerian military of detaining innocent people, including bystanders, hawkers, and vendors, at Abacha Barracks in Abuja after the recent Arba’een Trek.
The group claims that troops, like the police, arrested civilians indiscriminately during the Trek, including those not participating in the procession.
They allege that detainees, both men and women, are being held without charge and subjected to torture twice daily.
During a briefing for journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, IMN spokesperson, Fatima Aliyu Adam stated that the group has evidence of torture and blasphemy against Islam by security agents, which they threaten to expose within 24 hours.
The movement condemned the unlawful arrests, detentions, and torture of innocent people, demanding their unconditional release.
They vowed to hold military leaders accountable for the atrocities and violations of rights committed by troops at Abacha Barracks and other facilities.
The Shi’ites said, “We would like to inform the public that the Nigerian military has detained some innocent people at Abacha Barracks in Abuja. Those detained by the troops are being tortured multiple times daily.
“We have substantial evidence of the torture inflicted on these detainees, as well as instances of blasphemy committed against the religion of Islam by Nigerian security agents, which we will expose within the next 24 hours.
“Nigerian security agents should note that the grave injustices being inflicted upon us and the rest of the Nigerian populace are beyond comprehension. No conscientious individuals, whether within the security forces or outside, Muslim or non-Muslim, can witness such injustices without feeling compelled to challenge and expose them.
“We condemn the unlawful arrest, detention, and torture of innocent people by the military and demand the unconditional release of all those arrested.”
