Shi'ites  Members Clashes with Soldiers In Abuja

 

File photo (used for illustrative purposes only)

 

Members of Shi'ites an Islamic Movement in Nigeria  and the Nigeria Soldiers have clashed  at the Federal Capital, Abuja, as security operatives reportedly opened fire on members of the Shiite group, where some unspecified number of people were allegedly killed.

 

The  incident took place on Monday at Nyanya checkpoint along Mararaba road, as the protesters, who were coming from Mararaba axis, were stopped  by soldiers and Police drafted to mount a road block in the area.

 

While speaking to the Cable, an eyewitness disclosed that the policemen and soldiers fired live bullets after failing in the bid to prevent the protesters from moving into the city.

 

“The security personnel opened fire on the protesters at close range. The Shi'ites members were advancing towards Abuja when they were stopped, many of them  sustained injuries.”

 

The also clashed with the soldiers on Saturday, the  Shi’ites were in a procession from Suleja in Niger State to Abuja for the three-day mass march, tagged ‘Arbaeen Symbolic Trek’, scheduled to begin on Sunday.

 

It was gathered that when members of the sect approached a military checkpoint near Zuba motor park, the soldiers on duty refused to allow them to pass. The directive did not go down well with the group and they insisted they would pass through the road.

 

Findings revealed that the Shi’ites later resorted to hurling stones at the soldiers, which led to pandemonium, as the soldiers were alleged to have opened fire on them, leading to the death of at-least three people.