Senior Police Officer, Six Shiites Members Feared Dead As IMN Protest Turn Violent In Abuja
No fewer than six members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and a senior Police Officer, DCP Usman Umar are feared dead in a bloody clash between the Islamic sect and security forces on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The fiasco, which took place within the precincts of the Federal Secretariat Complex, also left a journalist with Channels TV station battling for his life after he was hit by a stray bullet.
Members of the IMN otherwise known as Shi’ites had gathered at Nitel Junction in Wuse II district for a march to the Federal Secretariat complex in protest against the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, by the government.
However, their street demonstration was interrupted around the Zone hosting the three organs of the federal government by armed security personnel who condoned off the area to preventing the protesters from continuing their planned protest.
In the ensuing melee, sporadic gunshots were fired to disperse the protesters, while several vehicles reportedly belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the vicinity were set ablaze
In a press release Monday night, DCP Frank Mba, force public Relations Officer, said Umar was killed while two other police officers were wounded.
‘The protesters defying all sense of decency violently attacked innocent citizens and Police personnel on duty.
‘In the process, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, FCT Command, DCP Usman A.K Umar, was shot and fatally injured by the protesters.
‘The officer who was immediately rushed to the hospital died moments later while receiving treatment.
‘Also, two (2) Assistant Superintendents of Police and a Staff of Channels Television sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
Mba however, said the Police have arrested fifty-four (54) suspects in connection with the incidents adding that the suspects are undergoing interrogation and will be arraigned in court as soon as possible.
