The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a member of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ite, Shuaibu Dass, for allegedly attempting to bribe officers with N1.5 million to secure the release of Abdul Kareem Ahmed.
The police added that Ahmed is a strong member and financier of the Shi’ite group.
Parading the duo at the command on Monday, the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Bennett Igweh, said Ahmed was arrested by the operatives of the State Intelligence Department in connection with the murder of two police officers during their procession on Sunday, 25 August 2024.
The police claimed Shi’ites attacked its men without provocation, killing two policemen and destroying three patrol vehicles.
The police subsequently arrested 97 Shi’ite members in connection with the incident.
But the leader of the Shi’ite group, Prof. Isah-Hassan Mshelgaru, distanced his members from the killings and destruction of police vehicles.
On Monday, the FCT CP said Dass and Ahmed will be charged with bribery and arraigned in court.
He said, “On 5 September, one Alhaji Shuaibu Dass of Durumi 1, a known member of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite sect), approached operatives of the FCT Police command, offering them the sum of N1,500,000 in an attempt to procure the release of one Abdul Kareem Ahmed, a strong member and financier of the Shi’ite sect who was arrested by operatives of the State Intelligence Department in an operation led by ACP Mohammed Baba on the 25/08/2024.
“Both suspects are linked to the murder of two police officers and causing grievous hurt to three others who were posted to Wuse market junction on the 25th of August 2024.
“Both suspects are currently in custody undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations”.
Igweh stated that the police were also going after other sponsors of the group.
He said, “We have a focus, we have intel, we have a lead that we are following. Don’t worry, we are going to get all of them. I told you we are out for them”.
Speaking to journalists, Dass said he brought the money to secure the release of his cousin.
He said, “I brought money to secure the release of my cousin, Mohammed. What happened was that one day, his family called to inform me that he had been arrested, and they didn’t know where he was”.
Mohammed, who confessed to being a member of Shi’ite, said he warned his brother against securing his bail.
He said, “When he came, he said he wanted to bail me out. I explained to him that the Islamic movement had its legal team, and they were already working on securing our release. But he insisted it wasn’t a problem, saying he knew some people who could help bail me out quickly.
“He said I am a farmer and if I stayed in custody longer, my crops would spoil. So, I agreed, telling him that if he could get me out, it was fine. I am not a financier as claimed, I am only a member of Shi’ite”.
