The Nigerian military blames “violent” demonstrators who opened fire at security forces for clashes at a pro-Palestinian protest in the capital that killed 12 on Friday.
The protest, held in Abuja by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), saw supporters of the banned Shiite movement gather for Quds Day, which is marked around the world with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrations.
Eleven protesters and one soldier were killed, according to a government intelligence report seen by AFP.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch says soldiers fired live rounds at protesters as a form of crowd control — events the military disputed.
After the protest, the IMN said on social media that the Nigerian Army “attacked the procession and several people sustained gunshot injuries.”
Inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the late 1970s, the IMN still maintains close ties with Tehran.
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