· 2 police officers killed, 3 seriously injured
· Several Shi’ites unaccounted for
· Patrol vans set ablaze
· Residents in uneasy calm
By Our Correspondents
Uneasy calm has enveloped Abuja, the nation’s capital, as police personnel and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, clashed resulting in the death of two police officers, three unconscious and some patrol vehicles burnt, while several members of the IMN are still unaccounted for and others arrested.
Trouble started when the IMN otherwise known as Shi’ites were on their annual Arba’een walk, the ceremonial trek that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period of the death of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Imam Hussain, when the clash happened.
The IMN was proscribed during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari after a deadly clash with the military in Kaduna state.
The Abuja Inquirer had observed increased security presence into the city centre from various outskirts with military checkpoints as well as some by the police.
The measure, one of our correspondent learnt, was to forestall the Shi’ites from getting into the city.
In a statement on the incident, the FCT Police Command through its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, accused the Shi’ite members of carrying out an unprovoked attack on its personnel.
The police said the attack resulted in the death of two of its personnel while doctors are battling to save the lives of three police officers in the hospital.
Adeh said, “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 Force attached to FCT command at Wuse Junction by the traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital and three police patrol vehicles set ablaze.
“The proscribed organisation attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked, wielding machetes, Improvised Explosive Devices (locally-made bombs in bottles with kerosene) and knives.
“While several arrests have been effected, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth Igweh condemns the unprovoked attack on police officers. He promises to bring those involved to book. The situation is presently under control and normalcy has been restored,” adding that “further development will be communicated in due course.”
However, the Movement, in a statement on Sunday, signed by Sheikh Sidi Sokoto for the Shi’ite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, said the walk, which was previously held in Masaka and Zuba axis on Saturday, was peaceful and successful.
They added that medical practitioners were currently attending to the injured protesters, adding that details of those killed, injured, and arrested will be made available subsequently.
The statement read, “We wish to inform the public that police have attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed numerous mourners. While trying to disperse the Arbaeen Trek, the police killed and injured numerous mourners.
“Presently, security agents are busy arresting the Arbaeen Trek mourners. Medical practitioners are attending to those critically injured, and details of those killed, injured, and arrested will be made available to members of the press in due course.
“Before the commencement of the trek, we have searched all participants to ensure no infiltration, and the programme will end as scheduled. The Arbeen Trek that was conducted yesterday at Masaka and Zuba axis ended peacefully and successfully.”
