Ebun Francis|
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shi’ites, clashed with a combined team of soldiers and policemen on Monday in Abuja.
The security operatives reportedly opened fire on the agitated crowd who were marching from Mararaba/Nasarawa axis following their inability to halt the movement of the sect who were on their way to Abuja from Suleja, Niger state for a three day planned protest.
The incident happened at Nyanya checkpoint along Mararaba road in the nation’s capital.
The sect Members were approaching a military checkpoint near Zuma motor park when the soldiers on duty ordered them to turn back. They refused to obey the soldiers and a fracas eventually ensured.
A man who witnessed the incident told newsmen, “The security personnel opened fire on the protesters at close range. The IMN members were advancing towards Abuja when they were stopped.”
“Many of them were killed. Some also sustained injuries.”
Abdullahi Musa, spokesman of the sect, had hours before the attack alerted newsmen in a statement that soldiers were planning to launch a fresh attack on the group.
According to him, one of their members overheard a soldier attached to the guards brigade at Kubau checkpoint along Karu – Abuja expressway saying order had been given “from above” that the military should engage the Shi’ites in a battle but vowed that the group will not be intimidated.
The statement read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement made by a member of Guards Brigade at (his duty post) Kubau Check point along Karu-Abuja expressway that they are waiting for the followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), because they have an order from above to engage them.”
It will be recalled that on Saturday, five members of the sect protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky were killed during a procession in Abuja.