August 26, (THEWILL) – A deadly clash between Policemen and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as the Shiite sect, has left two officers dead and three others unconscious in a hospital, the Police Command in Abuja said on Sunday.
However, the Islamic movement, under the leadership of Sayyid Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky, claimed that many of its members were shot by the police and several others arrested.
As of the time of going to press, the number of the dead had reportedly risen to 10, including members of the religious group.
The spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement.
She said, “The FCT police command wishes to confirm an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the ‘Shiite’ group, on some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the FCT command at Wuse Junction, by the traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital and three 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 made, the Commissioner of Police (FCT), Benneth C. Igweh, has condemned the unprovoked attack on police officers. He promises to bring those involved to book.
“The situation is currently under control and normalcy has been restored. Further developments will be communicated in due course.”
In a swift response, the Spokesman of the Islamic group, Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, said the police attacked the Arbaeen Symbolic Trek in Abuja and killed numerous mourners.
He said, “We wish to inform the public that the police attacked the ongoing Arbaeen 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.
“Security agents are busy arresting the Arbaeen Trek mourners. Medical practitioners are attending to those critically injured, and the details of those killed, injured and arrested will be made available to the press in due course.
“Before the commencement of the trek, we searched all the participants to ensure that there was no infiltration and the programme would end as scheduled.
“The Arbaeen Trek that was conducted yesterday at the Masaka and Zuba axis, ended peacefully and successfully.”
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has a history of violent clashes with security forces, notably in 2015, 2018 and 2020.
THEWILL recalls that in 2015, members of the group clashed with the police and the Nigeria Army in Kaduna, resulting in deaths and injuries on both sides and the arrest of the sect’s leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibrahim.
Following their arrest, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife were detained for approximately six years, ultimately regaining their freedom on July 28, 2021 after the High Court in Kaduna State acquitted him of all charges brought against him by the government. Apart from Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja had in 2020 witnessed a clash between the police and the group during a protest against the detention of their leader, Zakzaky.
Sunday’s clash started when a group of Shiites entered the FCT to observe the Arbaeen mourning procession, despite a warning from the police not to embark on the procession.
Arbaeen is a Shiite annual religious practice usually conducted on 20th Safar of the Islamic calendar to mark the 40th day of the murder of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed who was killed on the 10th Muharram.
