December 23, 2015 – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase has said that relatives of detained members of the Shiite set are free to visit them in detention.
The IGP made the clarification when members of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs made a courtesy call on him in his office at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He said he at no time said there would be special clearance from anywhere before the Shiite members could be visited while still in custody. He emphasized that the Police and other security agencies are conscious of Nigerian citizens’ fundamental rights and would protect them.
He also assured them of professional investigation of the incident and appealed to the Islamic body to use its reputable and respected platform to caution all groups in the country, that while they have the constitutional rights to express their views, it should not circumscribe the rights of others.
In his address, head of the delegation and the Secretary-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof Ishaq O. Oloyede appreciated the leadership qualities of IGP Solomon Arase and the Force Management Team.
He thanked the force for the cooperation extended to the Islamic body, and further used the medium to mediate on the clash between Shiite Islamic group and the military which occurred recently in Zaria.
The Secretary-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs urged the IGP to look into the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to avoiding such in future.
The body equally appealed for possible medical assistance to those detained in connection with the incident.
