Dark Sunday in Abuja: Several Feared Dead As Police, Shiites Trade Blame Over Bloody Clash 

There was pandemonium in Wuse district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday as adherents of the Shia branch of Islam, otherwise known as Shiite, had a bloody confrontation that claimed many lives, while several others sustained various degree of injuries. The violent confrontation which degenerated into gun duel, also led to the burning of several police vehicles. 

Reacting to the unfortunate but avoidable human carnage, the FCT Police Command, in a statement signed by the the commissioner of police, Benneth Igweh, confirmed the death of two of his personnel during the confrontation. He also disclosed that three other personnel were left unconscious in the hospital, and three police patrol vehicles were also set ablaze by the religious zealots.

According to him: “The FCT police command wish 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 FCT command at Wuse Junction by traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital, and three police patrol vehicles set ablaze.”

Igweh noted that the proscribed organisation attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked, wielding machetes, improvised explosive devices – locally made bombs in bottles with kerosene, and knives. While noting that several arrests have been effected, Igweh, decried the unprovoked attack on police officers.

The commissioner of police who vowed to bring those involved to book, also told resident of the territory that the situation has since been brought under control and normalcy restored. He however, promised to continue to update the public of further development.

However the IMN described as untrue reports that some police officers were attacked and killed by its members during a peaceful Arbaeen procession.

The organisation said that it was the police officers who attacked its members and in the process, killed their  colleagues

as they were shooting indiscriminately.

The IMN in a statement by one of its members, Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, was reacting to the allegation by the police that two police officers have been confirmed dead, three unconscious during an attack on five police officers in Wuse area of Abuja.

According to him, the Arbaeen procession commenced peacefully until when the police forces appeared out of nowhere, armed to the-teeth and opened fire on innocent citizens exercising their legal rights. 

“They gravely wounded hundreds, arrested so many others, and killed scores of our brothers and sisters. In the process, they also killed their colleagues, who were apparently hit by their stray bullets as they were shooting indiscriminately”, he said.

The IMN said, “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement signed by one SP Josephine Adeh, the PRO FCT Police Command, alleging that Aeba’een mourners killed two police officers on duty and rendered three others unconscious when they attacked the annual Arbaeen trek in Abuja. This statement is false, fabricated, and misleading. And we would like to set the record straight.

“The Arbaeen Trek is a religious event that takes place annually to mark the 40th day of remembrance of the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy Prophet, who was killed in the plains of Karbala, alongside his family and companions.

“It’s an event that is attended by people from all walks of life—Muslims and non-Muslims alike—because the sacrifice of Imam Hussein (as) is a pivotal moment that changes human history and transcends race, religion, or ethnicity.

“This year’s Arbaeen procession commenced peacefully until when the police forces appeared out of nowhere, armed to the-teeth and opened fire on innocent citizens exercising their legal rights. They gravely wounded hundreds, arrested so many others, and killed scores of our brothers and sisters. In the process, they also killed their colleagues, who were apparently hit by their stray bullets as they were shooting indiscriminately.

“As if that were not enough, a team of combined security forces later in the evening trooped to a guest house in Suleja, where our brothers and sisters used to reside, and opened fire unprovoked. The attack happened around 4:30 p.m on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at a guest house located behind Kwata in Suleja town, Niger State. 

“At the time of compiling this report, an eyewitness confirmed that the police had set fire to a car parked at the entrance of the house, vandalised many valuable facilities, and also attempted to burn down the house, but their efforts were thwarted. 

“The report also confirmed that the police fired indiscriminately at the people present at the scene and arrested dozens of people present at the scene.”

The organisation recalled that in July 2019, a similar incident occurred where the police forces attacked a peaceful #FreeZakzaky procession and killed their colleague in the process, but later blamed the Islamic movement for it. But an autopsy report later revealed that he was indeed killed by a stray bullet, and they were ordered by a court of law to pay ransom to his family.

The IMN said, “We wish to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that the activists of the Islamic movement are unarmed and defenseless. We do not carry any form of weaponry. Therefore, we reject and condemn the statement from the PRO FCT Police Command in its entirety. It’s a statement aimed at scapegoating the movement as well as seeking cheap public sympathy that will allow them to carry out even further atrocities against defenceless civilians.

“The same security agents who should supposedly protect the lives of citizens of the country are the ones who, in broad daylight, murder them in cold blood. At the same time, they fail to maintain order and provide security in various parts of the country ravaged by political and civil unrest, as well as such acts of insecurity as banditry and kidnapping. Their show of power is always on innocent and defenceless civilians, while they let terrorists and criminals roam freely.

“We wish to maintain that attacking our gathering is illegal and unconstitutional. It is an infringement on our fundamental rights to liberty and freedom of expression as citizens of Nigeria.

“We fear that our brothers and sisters arrested will be tortured, and those who sustain various degrees of injuries will be denied access to the urgent, proper medical attention they require.

“We condemn this act of violence meted out against our brothers and sisters. We call upon relevant authorities to call these security forces to order and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.”

This is however, not the first time the religious group under the umbrella of Islamic Movement of Nigerian will be clashing with state forces. 

Recall that there were similar clashes in 2016, 2018, 2020 and several others in northern states outside FCT. A case in point was the violent clash between the group, Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army in 2018.

The media in 2018 reported that IMN members and a combined force of the Nigerian Army and police, engaged in a bloody clash which left some dead and many injured.Show original message

The Commander in a statement said: “Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed on routine duty at Kugbo/ Karu bridge checkpoint of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were attacked by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at about 3:00pm on 29th October 2018. The sect in massive numbers forced their way into the troops checkpoint after overrunning the Police Force. The Police withdrew back to our troops position to join efforts to repel them.

“They fired weapons at our troops, throwing bottle cannisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic. 

“However, troops repelled the attack in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force to stop the situation from further deteriorating. Unfortunately, during the encounter three members of the sect were killed while four soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility.”

Linus Aleke, Friday Olokor 

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