Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Monday clashed with soldiers and policemen in Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory, the second time in two days.
The sect, which members came out in their thousands for the procession, clashed again with security operatives when the army attempted to stop them from accessing the city-centre. The ensuing fracas led to the security operatives opening fire on the group along Nyanya, an outskirt of the FCT, killing many of the Shiite Members and injuring many others.
The Nigerian army has issued a press statement on the clash. Read below;
“Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed on routine duty at Kugbo/ Karu bridge checkpoint of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were attacked by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at about 3:00pm on 29th October 2018”.
“The sect in massive numbers forced their way into the troops checkpoint after over running the Police Force. The Police withrew back to own troops position to join efforts to repel them. They fired weapons at own troops, throwing bottle cannisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic”.
“However, Troops repelled the attack in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force to stop the situation from further deteriorating.
Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 4 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility”.
“Meanwhile, the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored in the general area and there is free flow of traffic”.
“Members of the public living within Abuja and environs are enjoined to go about their normal activities without fear of molestation. The Nigerian Army will not deter in carrying out its constitutional roles and also safeguarding law abiding citizens”.