Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed dismay with the clashes between the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and security operatives, over the continued detention of the sect’s leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria also known as Shiites, El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat had been held in detention for four years in spite of a court ruling ordering their release.
Reacting, some affected residents, called for dialogue between the Federal Government and members of the Sect.
Mr. Kingsley Okafor a Taxi Driver who operates the Banex route, venue of one of the clashes, expressed surprise that the group’s protests which before now were peaceful had turned violent.
Okafor, who likened the situation of the Shiites to the events that led to the birth of Boko-Haram in Maiduguri, advised government to allow the rule of law to prevail by releasing El-Zakzaky and his wife.
Also, a petty trader Adaku Iheanacho, described the incident as terrible, noting that it grounded commercial activities resulting in losses as people ran for their lives.
Mr. John Asishana, a telecom business dealer, regretted that the incident was happening in the federal capital territory which was home to the diplomatic communities.