Police Promise to Investigate Army, Shiite Group Clash

December 23, 2015
Nigerian National Accord

Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mr Solo-mon Arase, has prom-ised to carry out a profes-sional investigation into the recent clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Islamic group in Zaria, Kaduna State.

This is contained in statement issued by Force spokesperson, Acting As-sistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Olabisi Ko-lawole, in Abuja on Tuesday.

It stated that Arase gave the promise when a delegation of the Nige-ria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, led by its Secretary-General, Pro-fessor. Ishaq Oloyede, vis-ited him.

He said the police and other security agencies were conscious of the citi-zens’ fundamental rights and would protect them.

Arase appealed to the Islamic body to use its platform to caution all groups in the country against encroaching on other citizens’ rights.

“While they have the constitutional rights to express their views, it should not circumscribe the rights of others,” he said.

The IG denied an on-line report, which quoted him as saying that rela-tions of detainees would have to seek special clear-ance before they would be allowed to visit them.

“The Inspector General of Police at no time said there would be special clearance from anywhere before the Shiite members could be visited while still in custody,” it said.

The statement made it clear that the detainees could be visited by their friends, relatives and law-yers, after undergoing necessary procedures.

He reassured members of the public of police commitment to the pro-tection of lives and prop-erty and adherence to the tenets of fundamental hu-man rights.