One Killed in Abuja as Security Operatives Confront Shiite Demonstrators

A deadly clash broke out in Abuja on Friday between security forces and members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), leaving one person dead. The confrontation happened during the Quds procession near Banex roundabout in Wuse 2.

The Clash and Arrests

IMN members claimed that several of their people were killed, but the police only confirmed the death of one officer. Security forces also arrested 19 suspected IMN members.

Jafaar Gali, a leader of the procession, said the group began their march after Jumat prayers. He recounted that while they were near Zenith Bank at Banex, soldiers arrived to stop them. He admitted that some protesters threw stones at the security personnel. According to him, many members were either killed or injured. However, these claims could not be independently verified.

Another IMN participant, identified as Muhammad, alleged that some of the bodies were taken to Mararaba, Nasarawa State. He also accused security forces of using excessive force and arresting people, including bystanders. Later in the evening, soldiers and police took control of key streets in Abuja, particularly around Wuse.

Police Response

Abuja police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated that IMN members were armed with firearms and other weapons. She said security personnel faced heavy gunfire, resulting in serious injuries to three officers. One of them later died at the National Hospital.

The police assured the public that normalcy had been restored and that investigations were underway to bring those responsible to justice. FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, strongly condemned the attack on security forces by members of the proscribed group.

Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters spokesperson Onyenma Nwachukwu has yet to comment on the military’s involvement in the incident.

The Quds Procession and IMN’s History

Every last Friday of Ramadan, Shiites worldwide hold the Quds procession to show solidarity with Palestine. However, in Nigeria, the government considers IMN a violent group, leading to frequent clashes with security forces.

Tensions between the government and IMN escalated in 2015 when the military killed many of their members. The Buhari administration later arrested and detained their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, for years. By 2019, the government officially banned the group, labeling it a terrorist organization.

Despite the ban, IMN members have continued their protests. In 2019, more than 10 people, including a journalist and a police officer, died during demonstrations calling for El-Zakzaky’s release. He was eventually acquitted in 2021, but the government delayed returning his passport. Under President Bola Tinubu, his passport was finally released, allowing him to travel to Iran.

Despite El-Zakzaky’s legal victory, the Nigerian government still considers IMN an outlawed group. Attempts to disperse their processions often result in violent encounters, as seen in Friday’s clash in Abuja and similar demonstrations in other northern states.