Shi’ites Threaten Legal Action Against Nigerian Government, Army, Police Over Alleged Detention of Members, Including 60 Minors

Shi’ites have threatened legal action against the FG, Army, police unless their allegedly detained members, including over 60 minors, are released

Any moment from now the Shi’ites may commence legal action against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army, unless their members, including over 60 minors, allegedly arrested and detained are not released.

The Islamic group made this known on Friday while speaking with journalists in Abuja, on the recent alleged attack on their members during a peaceful procession in Abuja.

It would be recalled that on March 28, 2025, members of the Islamic group while on a peaceful procession to mark the International Quds Day, allegedly came under attack by the officers of the Nigerian Army.

Speaking on the issue, a team of lawyers, led by Mr. Bala Dakum and Yushau Uthman Dakum claimed that about 26 persons were allegedly shot dead during the incident by the security officers.

“We are compelled to address you this evening due to the recent avoidable but unfortunate brutal attack on our clients (the Shiites Muslim faithfuls).

“Our clients came out on March 28, 2025 to commemorate their annual international Quds day like their counterparts across the globe.

“While peacefully carrying out their procession in Banex Area, Wuse Il, Abuja in their thousands, they unexpectedly and surprisingly came across a group of armed soldiers who without any provocation started firing live ammunition at them.

“In the cause of this inhumane, callous, cruel, barbaric and most horrific attack on our clients, about 26 persons lost their lives, over 30 persons sustained various degrees of life-threatening injuries and about 274 were arrested by the soldiers”, the lawyers stated.

They added that those arrested by the army were later handed over to the Nigeria Police Force who took them to the now defunct infamous SARS in Abattoir, Garki, Abuja, where they were detained under very harsh and dehumanising conditions.

Speaking further, Dakum alleged that the detainees were coerced into writing or signing statements at the police cell in the absence of their lawyers, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

The lawyers in addition claimed that some of the Shi’ites members arrested and detained were over 60 minors who have been kept in the same cell with persons suspected to have been involved in heinous crimes contrary to all norms and provisions of the ACJA 2015 and Child Rights Act.