Sheikh Sidi Mainasara, spokesperson for the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), made a strong statement on September 27, 2024, condemning the recent arrests of over 100 IMN members during a peaceful Arbaeen procession on August 25. Mainasara called for the immediate release of all detainees, including women, children, and infants, who are currently held at the SARS Abattoir facility in Garki, Abuja.
“This was a peaceful gathering,” Mainasara asserted, claiming that police employed excessive force to break up the event. He emphasized the importance of the procession in honoring Imam Hussaini, reflecting the community’s deep-rooted traditions.
In response to the arrests, the IMN has reached out to various human rights organizations for assistance. “We have contacted the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, the European Union, and the United Nations,” Mainasara noted, urging these bodies to intervene and secure the unconditional release of those detained.
Mainasara raised serious concerns about the treatment of infants and alleged mistreatment of detainees, stating, “We have evidence of police forcibly removing hijabs from our women.” The IMN is calling for an end to these violations of rights and insists that all detainees should be released without delay.
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