Six Feared Dead, Many Injured As Soldiers, Shiites Clash In Abuja

A crossfire in Abuja between soldiers of the Nigerian Army and Shiite (IMN) protesters on Tuesday has resulted in the death of some persons with many others also injured.

It was gathered that not less than six members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria are feared dead as a result of the clash with security operatives in the nation’s capital city.

The clash was said to have occurred around Gwarimpa, close to Galadimawa in Abuja just as the Shiites were about to round off their Arbaeen Symbolic Trek.

The development caused huge confusion as the Shiite members as well as other residents and passers-by scampered for safety in the chaos that ensued.

The Secretary of Academic Forum of IMN, Abdullahi Musa who confirmed the incident alleged that the soldiers opened fire on the Shiite members and carried the bodies of the dead persons away.

He however was unable to confirm the number of casualties involved or why the security forces attacked the protesters.

“They are just shooting people. As I am talking to you now, six people have been killed. They even carried some dead bodies away,” he said.

Naija News reports that the Arbaeen trek is not peculiar to Shiites in Nigeria but is observed globally by members of the sect.

Meanwhile, it will be recalled that the leader of the IMN (Shiites) in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was in July 2021, discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State high court.

He had been in custody since 2015 when he was arrested after a clash between his supporters and a convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff clashed in Zaria, Kaduna State.