There was palpable tension yesterday, as two Police officers were killed in a clash between police and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites in Abuja.
Three police officers were also left unconscious and many vehicles burnt in the brawl that occurred at the Wuse area of the federal capital territory (FCT) during the Arba’een symbolic trek observed by IMN members. A trader was also reportedly killed during the clash.
According to eyewitnesses, the trader named Amiru, who was an onlooker, was shot in the chest while running for his life when Police chased the protesters close to Chateau De La-Rey in Wuse Zone-6.
An eyewitness told newsmen that upon rushing the victim to a Zone-3 hospital, the A&E unit was overwhelmed with the number of casualties of Police officers. “So, he breathed his last while being rushed to Maitama District hospital”.
Spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the attack which happened on Sunday, describing the attack as unprovoked while accusing the group of destroying three police patrol vehicles.
According to Adeh, the IMN members attacked some personnel of the Nigeria Police attached to the FCT Command at Wuse Junction, beside a traffic light.
“The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the ‘Shi’ite’ group, on some personnel of the Nigeria Police attached to FCT Command at Wuse Junction by the traffic light, where two (2) police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital, and three (3) Police patrol vehicles set ablaze.
The Police PRO also indicated that they wielded machetes, improvised explosive devices (locally-made bombs in bottles with kerosene), and knives.
In a statement, Sidi Mainasara, spokesperson of IMN, alleged that police killed “numerous members” of the group during the procession. “We wish to inform the public that police have attacked the Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed numerous mourners. While trying to disperse the Arba’een Trek, the Police killed and injured numerous mourners,”, the statement read.
