Islamic Movement Stoned Us, Attempted To Cart Away Ammunition And Missiles, Says Army

The Nigerian Army has accused members of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria (IMN) of attacking troops on escort duty, as well as
attempting to “cart away” ammunition and missiles during an
incident which occurred on Saturday.

A press release by Major General James Myam of the Commander
Army Headquarters Garrison on Sunday, also noted that the IMN
pelted the troops with “stones and other dangerous objects” and
smashed windscreens of vehicles belonging to the military, as well
as civilians.

The sect was conducting a procession to Abuja as part of
activities for the three-day ‘Arbaeen Symbolic Trek’, scheduled to
begin on Sunday.

Although five Shi’ites were said to have been killed according
to eyewitnesses, the Army said three members of the sect died,
while two soldiers sustained injuries.

The statement read: “Troops of Army Headquarters Garrison on
official duty escorting ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army
Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some
members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at Zuba
bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3.00pm on
Saturday 27th October 2018.

“The sect, who were supposedly in a procession, established an
illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage. When the troops’
convoy attempted to clear the roadblock, they met stiff opposition
from the sect. Members of the sect used various objects to
barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other
dangerous items. They smashed both military and civilian vehicles’
windscreens and windows.

“They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the
ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the
troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops
of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the
incident occurred rushed to the convoy’s rescue.

“Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were
killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and
are being treated at a military medical facility.”

The statement also noted that normalcy had been restored to the
area, just as it called on “members of the public, especially those
plying the Abuja – Zuba Road to go about their normal activities
with the assurance from the Nigerian Army that no individual or
persons would be allowed to disturb public peace and unprovoked
attacks against military convoys”.