Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have clashed
with security operatives again in Abuja.
The incident, which is the third in less than one week, occurred
on Tuesday in the city centre of the Federal Capital Territory.
The group said its members were holding a procession to mark the
2018 Arbaeen, a Muslim religious observance that occurs 40 days
after the day of Ashura – another religious observance mostly
celebrated by Shiites.
They marched from the Aguiyi Ironsi Road in the Maitama area
through Wuse II before they were eventually stopped by the security
operatives as they attempted to gain access into the central
business district.
The police dispersed the Shiite members using teargas, leading
to the violence.
The group is protesting the continued detention of its leader,
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, by the Federal Government.
On Saturday, the group clashed with personnel of the Nigerian
Military in Zuba, a satellite town on the outskirt of Abuja where
at least three people lost their lives.
Two days later, the members of the Shiite group clashed again
with soldiers, this time at the Nyanya axis.
According to a statement from the Army, at least three people
died on the part of the Shiite group while four soldiers were
injured during the incident.
It explained that the Shiites forced their way into the troops’
checkpoint at Kugbo/Karu bridge after overrunning the police.
The three members of the group were reportedly killed while the
soldiers were trying to repel them, having attacked the troops.
Read more police-van-burnt-as-violence-between-shiites-and-security-forces-enters-day-three/