Shiites And Soldiers Clash In Abuja

Shiites And Soldiers Clash In Abuja

A confrontation occurred on Friday in Abuja between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), commonly known as the Shiite group, and Nigerian Army personnel during a procession marking International Quds Day.

According to the Shiite group, the clash resulted in several injuries and fatalities among their members. However, the Nigerian Army stated that the Shiites became violent, disrupted public order, and engaged the troops during their procession….READ MORE….

Sheikh Sokoto, in a response to inquiries, claimed that many Shiite members were injured by gunfire, with eyewitnesses reporting at least five deaths, though the exact number of casualties remains unverified.

The Shiites were participating in the International Quds Day procession, an event held on the last Friday of Ramadan to show solidarity with the oppressed, particularly the Palestinians. The procession was conducted globally in countries such as the UK, France, the US, Germany, and several others across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Shiite group accused a team from the Nigerian Army’s Guard Brigade of attacking the procession with live ammunition. They asserted that many participants, including women and minors, sustained life-threatening injuries, and some died due to the brutality. The group emphasized that the participants were marching peacefully from a mosque in Banex Plaza, having just observed the Juma’at prayer, and were heading to Wuse Market when the army blocked their path and began shooting.

The IMN has called for an independent investigation into the incident and urged the authorities to respect citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly. They condemned the targeting of civilians exercising their legal rights and demanded that the authorities protect the freedoms of the public.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu confirmed the clash, stating that the Shiite group’s protest became violent, disrupting public order, which led to an exchange of fire with the troops. However, he was unable to confirm the exact number of casualties.