By Zainab Rauf The Concerned Abuja Indigenes have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order the release of over...
By Zainab Rauf
The Concerned Abuja Indigenes have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order the release of over 200 detainees arrested during the March 28 International Quds Day protest in Abuja and to compensate victims and their families affected by what they described as a military massacre.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, May 6, spokesperson of the group, Ayede Danjuma Abdul, said, “We gather here today under the banner of justice, unity, and humanity to speak against the horrific and unjustified violence carried out by the Nigerian Army against peaceful Quds Day protesters and innocent Abuja residents.”
He alleged that at least 27 people were killed, over 66 others sustained serious injuries, and more than 380 were arrested when soldiers opened fire on demonstrators. “What should have been a peaceful expression of solidarity turned into a bloody massacre carried out by heavily armed soldiers, including the deployment of armored tanks, live ammunition, and brutal physical force,” he said.
The group identified Mr. Abdullahi Bello, a well-known businessman unaffiliated with any religious movement, as one of those killed. “He was arrested alive, tortured to death by severe beatings in the army barracks, and later dumped at a mortuary. He was not shot — he was beaten to death,” Abdul said.
He claimed that multiple detainees were killed in custody inside military barracks after their arrest. “These were not people killed in the protest scene, but after capture,” he said, adding that even bystanders and passersby were caught in the violence. “Innocent Abuja indigenes, who were simply going about their daily business, were arrested, beaten, and in some cases, killed.”
The group further alleged that the Nigerian Police have refused to release the bodies of those killed, preventing families from conducting proper burials. “At least eight bodies lie at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Gwagwalada with no proper preservation, and more are scattered across four different mortuaries in Abuja,” Abdul stated.
He urged the President to intervene. “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the release of all bodies for proper burial rites and for families to grieve with dignity,” he said. “The over 200 detainees in Kuje and Suleja prisons, many of whom are ill and wounded, must be given urgent medical care and legal access.”
The group demanded a full and independent investigation into the killings, particularly those that allegedly occurred inside military custody. “All responsible soldiers and commanders must be held accountable,” Abdul said. “Many of those arrested have no connection to any group — they are just Abuja residents caught in the chaos. They must be freed without delay.”
He also called for compensation. “The government must offer full compensation to the families of the deceased, those injured, and those whose businesses and lives were disrupted by this violent military action.”
Condemning the use of military force in civilian protests, the group said, “Civilian protests are not warzones. We demand an immediate halt to the use of military force in responding to peaceful protests.”
Abdul concluded with a message of unity: “This is not just about one group or one incident. It is about the soul of our nation, the rights of our people, and the limits of state power. We stand united — Muslims and Christians, northerners and southerners, youth and elders — in absolute condemnation of this massacre. We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. We will not stop demanding justice.”
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