Media and Communications Officer of the
Special Task Force, also known as ‘Operation Safe Haven’, Capt. Ikedichi
Iweha, has said that one person was killed and several others injured
in Jos as rival Muslim youths
clashed with members of the Shi’ite movement who had protested the
continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Subsequently, Iweha said that the
Commander of the task force, Maj. Gen. Tagbo Udeh, has ordered a ban on
all forms of processions and rallies in the state, adding that such
rallies or processions must get the permission of the police.
Hundreds of Shi’ite women, all clad in
black, had staged a protest in Jos on Saturday, demanding the release of
El-Zakzaky, his wife and members of the movement that were arrested
when they clashed with soldiers on December 12, in Zaria, Kaduna State
for proper medical attention.
They had also demanded the corpses of
their members who were allegedly killed by the soldiers for proper
burial according to Islamic tradition.
Iweha told our correspondent, in an
interview in Jos on Sunday, that many members of the movement were also
arrested when the otherwise peaceful procession turned violent at Bauchi
road, leading to the death of one person.
He said the incident had created tension
around Bauchi Road, Rikkos, Angwan Rogo, Dilimi, Nasarawa, Gwom and
many other Hausa-dominated areas, leading to a clash between some rival Muslim sects.
He said that the timely intervention of
security operatives saved what would have been a very ugly situation,
stressing that the commander had also ordered an all-round patrol and
surveillance by operatives of the task force.
The media officer said that many of
those arrested were being interrogated to ascertain their level of
culpability in the incident, adding that at the end of the interrogation
those found innocent would be released.
On Sunday, STF rolled out tanks at
strategic places in the metropolis, while there were heavy security
presence around virtually all the churches and other worship centres in
Jos and its environs. The security men were dressed in combat uniforms a
situation that raised curiosity around Jos metropolis.
Iweha said, “The procession by the women later turned violent as rival Muslim youths
clashed along Bauchi Road as the Shi’ite members were proceeding to the
Central Mosque and the commander has ordered a round-the-clock security
surveillance and patrol and we would not want to take chances.
“He has also ordered a ban on all forms
of rallies, protest or procession in Jos and such rallies must get the
permission of the police upon application.”
He said that the incident had been
contained while security agencies had been placed on red alert to avoid
further breakdown of law and order in the metropolis.
by Jude Owuamanam, Jos
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