A combined team of policemen and
soldiers reportedly opened fire on the members of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shi’ites, in Abuja on Monday evening.
The incident happened at Nyanya
checkpoint along Mararaba road in the nation’s capital.
Security operatives had
intercepted the procession of the sect members who were marching from
Mararaba/Nasarawa axis.
A witness revealed that the
policemen and soldiers fired live bullets after failing in the bid to prevent
the protesters from moving into the city.
“The security personnel opened
fire on the protesters at close range. The IMN members were advancing towards
Abuja when they were stopped,” the witness said.
“Many of them were killed. Some
also sustained injuries.”
On Saturday, five IMN members
were shot dead during a procession in Zuba, Gwagwalada area council of the
federal capital territory (FCT).
The Shi’ites were proceeding from
Suleja, Niger state, to Abuja for a three-day mass protest.
Members of the sect were
approaching a military checkpoint near Zuma motor park when the soldiers on
duty ordered them to turn back. The group resisted the directive as they
engaged the soldiers in an argument which resulted in a commotion.
A witness who pleaded anonymity
had said that the Shi’ites resorted to hurling stones at the soldiers.
In the pandemonium, the soldiers
were said to have opened fire on them.
Hours before the latest attack,
Abdullahi Musa, spokesman of the sect, had raised the alarm that soldiers were
planning to launch a fresh attack on the group.
Musa said an IMN member 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.
“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,” Musa had said in a statement.
He had vowed that the group would
not be intimidated to give up its demand for the release of Ibraheem
el-Zakzaky, its leader.
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