Shiites members

The Police in Plateau on Saturday said 44 members of the Shiite Movement, who embarked on a procession that later turned violent on Wednesday, were remanded in prison custody in Jos.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Peter Ogunyanwo, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Shiite members had embarked on a procession in defiance of police advice.

NAN also reports that violence erupted when the Shiite members had a clash with non -Shiite members.

Although, no person was reported dead, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the clash.

According to Ogunyanwo, 45 Shiite members were arrested by the men of Operation Safe Haven and handed over to the police.

“The procession by members of Shiite in Jos, which later turned violent, resulted in the arrest of 45 of them by the men of Operation Safe Haven and later handed over to us for prosecution.

“Without much delay, we arraigned 44 of them because one among them is a minor; he is just four years old.

“As I am speaking to you, the 44 arraigned have been remanded in prison.

“We actually advised them not hold that procession because the peace being enjoyed on the Plateau is still fragile and we envisaged violence arising from that.

“But they did not heed to our advice and went ahead with the procession.

“ As predicted the procession turned violent, with properties worth millions destroyed,” he said.

The commissioner admonished citizens of the state to be law abiding and support the force in its bid to rid the state of crime. (NAN)