The Police have decried the killing of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Usman Umar, who was reportedly shot dead by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites while staging a violent protest against the continued detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzakky in Abuja on Monday.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, said this while commiserating with the family of the late DCP even as he condemned the incident and warned that “Enough-is-Enough as the Force and the nation at large will not continue to suffer losses on account of reckless and lawless persons and groups in the society.”
A statement issued on Monday by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said members of the El-Zazakky group involving over three thousand (3000) trooped to the Central Business District of Abuja at about 12:30, adding that the heavily armed protesters defied all sense of decency as they violently attacked innocent citizens and Police personnel on duty.
“In the process, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, FCT Command, DCP Usman A.K Umar, was shot and fatally injured by the protesters. The officer who was immediately rushed to the hospital died moments later while receiving treatment. Also, two (2) Assistant Superintendents of Police and a Staff of Channels Television sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment. The violent protesters also razed down a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Response Post close to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja and two (2) vehicles,” the statement said.
The police also noted that they have arrested fifty-four (54) suspects in connection with the incidents stressing that the suspects are undergoing interrogation and will be arraigned in court as soon as possible.
Monday’s clash with the security was one of the succession of clashes with the security, with the most recent being the attempt by the sect members to invade the National Assembly two weeks ago, where they allegedly shot and inflicted injuries on some security agents.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, had issued an order restricting all forms of protests to the popular Unity Fountain, but it appeared the sect had defied that order by extending their protests to other parts of the capital city.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
