*Kill 2 police officers, 3 in critical condition
*Police attacked, killed our members too – Shi’ites
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ites, Sunday midday, engaged law enforcement officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), killing two police personnel.
They also inflicted serious injuries in three other police operatives, setting three police operational vehicles ablaze as well as vehicle of other people who unfortunately parked beside the police vehicles. Those are suspected to be owned by “kabu-kabu” operators who had turned spaces at the traffic light Wuse Market junction to illegal motor parks in connivance with policemen posted there.
The rampaging Shi’ite members equally pulled down the perimeter fence of a former FCDA staff housing block, sold to civil servants by the MALLAM Nasir el-Rufai administration, vandalizing some of the vehicles parked at the compound and damaging some others.
They also robbed valuables of some persons at gun point along the Accra Street, Wuse Zone 5, Sultan Abubakar Way, Wuse Zone 2, and adjourning streets, while they engaged the police in fierce gun duel during the incident.
Troubled was said to have started on Sunday at the popular Wuse Zone II Area of Abuja, when the Nigeria Police made an attempt to stop the Arba’een Symbolic Trek by the Islamic sect in the axis, allegedly killing and injuring many of the mourners.
The police, however, dismissed the allegation, accusing the group of attacking its officers while at their duty posts, and unprovoked, according to a statement.
The Shi’ites however, in a statement debunked police claims stating the its members were merely peacefully holding the 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.
One Sheikh Sidi Sokoto, who signed the statement on behalf of the Islamic Movement and 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 their 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.”
But, the FCT Police Command, had earlier in a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, accused the Shi’ite sect 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 undisclosed 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 the Wuse Market 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”.
Recall that the sect had attacked the Army in Zaria during similar treck along the Zaria-Kano road, leading to a long face-off between them and the Nigerian Army.
The Shi’ite have since their proscription, rejected the court order and government gazette against them and continued with their activities.
