Ashura 1440: Massive Ashura Mourning Procession in Abuja

Ashura Mourning procession in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday the 10th of Muharam 1440 (20/9/2018). Thousands joined the peaceful procession in memory of Imam Husain (AS) who was killled over 1400 years ago in the plain of Karbala, Iraq.

 One of the significance of Imam Husain (alaihis salam}’s sacrifice is death in honour and dignity is better than living under humiliation. Imam Husain taught the world how to face injustice.

 Reports reaching us from Abuja indicate that security agencies have resorted to mass arrests of mourners who were returning from the peaceful procession. They are making their frustration to bear, having woefully failed to prevent the procession in Abuja.

Ashura procession was successfully and peacefully done despite the government’s doomsday prophesy, should members of the Islamic Movement be allowed to hold the mourning occasion particularly in Abuja. Having woefully failed to stop it through propaganda, threats and intimidation, they are venting their anger on members of the Movement through mass detention, involving hundreds.

The multiple barricades mounted by policemen and soldiers of the Brigade of Guards could not stop the multitude of Ashura mourners who came out for the procession in Abuja today. Starting from the early hours of today, policemen in several vehicles had mounted an unusual numbers of barricades and roadblocks in and around the central business area of Abuja in order to prevent access to the Federal Secretariat, the expected venue of the protest.

This caused a very serious traffic gridlock almost everywhere in town and especially on all major routes leading into the town. All their measures could however not deter the mourners, who came out in their thousands for the procession.