Two police officers have been confirmed dead as Shi’ite protesters clashed with the Nigeria Police in Abuja.
CONVERSEER gathered that the incident happened on Sunday around the Wuse Market, in the Wuse Zone 6 area of Abuja, leaving three other police officers wounded as well.
A reliable source said the Shi’ite Muslim group were carrying out an Arba’een Symbolic Trek in the Wuse District when they clashed with the police, who shot teargas at them.
A video shared by X (formerly Twitter) user @NaijaNews1960 showed the police shooting at the protesters.
“The police have attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and allegedly killed mourners,” part of the tweet read.
https://twitter.com/NaijaNews1960/status/1827678352125137005?t=4qGUW0yl2Y3hrPKSQLW4bg&s=19
In a statement issued by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer for the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Abuja, on Sunday, the Command claimed the protesters attacked its officers.
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The statement which Shi’ite protesters as proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, said three officers were also wounded with three police vans burnt as well.
“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 Wuse Junction by traffic light, where two (2) police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital, and three (3) 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 C. Igweh, PSC, mni, condemns the unprovoked attack on Police officers. He promises to bring those involved to book.
“The situation is presently under control and normalcy restored.
“Further development will be communicated in due course,” the statement read.
CONVERSEER could not ascertain the casualties meted out by the Shi’ite protesters at the time of filing this report.