Abuja Natives gives gov’t 48hrs to end Shi’ites protest

By Stanley Onyekwere

Natives of Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have given the federal government 48 hours to do anything possible to end the series of violent protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)  in the city.

Describing the recent protests by the IMN members otherwise known as Shi’ites as constituting nuisance in the society, they Natives warned that if government fails to take decisive steps to tackle the group, it might snowball to senseless killings and destruction of public property.

Speaking to a section of the media in Abuja, the group spokesman, Comrade Yunusa Yusuf, noted that the Shi’ites movement should organise themselves in a venue, just as it was the case with “Bring Back Our Girls” protest.

The spokesman who expressed displeasure over the recent protest to the National Assembly by members of the Shiites movement warned that further protest by the group in the nation’s capital might lead to counter attack by the indigenous people of Abuja.

He also expressed concern that the protest has led to injuries of seven indigenous women who are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals across the territory.

Yusuf opined that the Abuja natives who are being marginalized in all fronts have not embarked on such destructive protest, stressing that any attempt to disrupt the peace of Abuja by any political or religious group will be highly resisted by the natives.

“We are disturbed by the recent protest by Shiites movement to the National Assembly leading to various degrees if injuries and destruction of property.

“We are sad because the Shiites group are not the only aggrieved group in this country. We the indigenous people of Abuja are equally aggrieved over so many issues ranging from ministerial slot and deliberate marginalization of our people.

“We did not take the laws into our hands, but we have conducted ourselves peacefully even in the face of provocation by security agents.

“Therefore, we do not see any reason why certain group will disrupt the peace of our land. At this point, we are giving the federal government 48 hours to end the Shiites protest or we might do it in our own ways,” he stressed.

The natives however advised the Shiites group to relocate to Kaduna to press home their demands, as the crisis started in Kaduna state jurisdiction, not FCT.