Just In: Many Shot As Soldiers Clash With Shiite In Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory is currently in a state of increased security awareness, as members of the Islamic National Movement (INM) clashed with soldiers in the Nyanya area of the Capital City.
According to reliable sources, the trouble started when the Shiite procession was stopped at a military checkpoint, in a bid to stop them from penetrating deeper into the Federal Capital.
The action by the soldiers at the military checkpoint resulted in a clash. Many INM members were said to have been shot in this fracas. A similar incident occurred on Saturday when two INM members shot by soldiers on Saturday.
The Shiite members were leading a protest against the imprisonment of their leader, El-Zakzakky who was arrested in 2015 after his followers blocked the passage of the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria. Since the arrest of El-Zakzakky, his members have staged a protest in various cities against his arrest.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, pandemonium started when the security operatives tried to stop the protesters from moving deeper into the city.
He said the protesters resisted the directive by the police for them to retreat and that led to a full-scale skirmish. The source also claimed that several lives were lost but could not state the figure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also recalled that about 53 members of this group were also arrested by the police in the Federal Capital after a violent protest.
When contacted, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, Spokesman of the Police Command in the FCT, said he had bit been briefed on the incident and refused to speak further on the issue. On Sunday, the Army confirmed that 3 members of the sect died on Saturday and two soldiers sustained injuries in the skirmish. In the wake of these upheavals, the FCT had assured residents of optimum safety against planned protest in the city.
