A trader was shot dead, while 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 Wuse Market, Abuja.
Daily Trust reports that the victim, one 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.
Our reporter reported that three police vehicles were set ablaze.
An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that upon rushing the victim to 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.”
Our reporter learnt that IMN members were on an Arbaeen demonstration to commemorate the 40th day after its Ashura anniversary.
“They pelted the officers with stones and seized guns from the police. They overpowered the police, so they had to run for their lives,” adding that “The protesters further set fire to three police vehicles,” a sachet water vendor told our reporter.
He added that as the IMN members proceeded toward Berger, police fired shots and tear gas to disperse the protesters and bystanders.
Reacting to the development, Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the police in Abuja, she said, “Shiites attacked the police unprovoked and killed two officers and burned a police vehicle unprovoked. If you go there, you should know that it was Shiites who attacked and killed police unprovoked.”
However, in a telephone interview, a medical coordinator of the IMN Abuja zone, Ishaq Adam, refuted police claims.
He said their members were known for conducting peaceful demonstrations for over 40 years.
He added that “Even yesterday, there were over one million IMN members who held Arbaeen processions in Suleja and Mararraba that started and ended peacefully.”
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