Maroc - SPYETV.COM.NG - A La Une - 25/Aug 16:56

Shiites, Police Clashed in Abuja, Three Reportedly Killed, Several Injured

Pandemonium broke out Sunday afternoon at the Wuse area of Abuja as members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites clashed with police operatives from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.The Shi’ites were said to be holding the Arba’een walk, the ceremonial trek that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period of the death of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Imam Hussain, when the clash occurred. No fewer than three persons including policemen are said to have been killed while several others sustained gunshot injuries in the mileu that ensued. While police patrol vehicles were also burnt down.This development has led to accusation and counter accusation between the members of the shiite and the police authority.The FCT Police Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, revealed that the Shi’ite members of carrying out an unprovoked attack on its personnel.The police said the attack resulted in the death of two of its personnel while doctors are battling to save the lives of three police officers in the hospital.Adeh said, “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 the traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital and three 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.”The Shi’ites group however had alleged in a statement that the Nigeria Police attacked the peaceful Arba’een Symbolic Trek in Wuse, Abuja, killing and injuring many of the mourners.The statement read, “We wish to inform the public that police have attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed numerous mourners. While trying to disperse the Arbaeen Trek, the police killed and injured numerous mourners.“Presently, security agents are busy arresting the Arbaeen Trek mourners. Medical practitioners are attending to those critically injured, and details of those killed, injured, and arrested will be made available to members of the press in due course.An eyewitness who want to remain anonymous told SpyeTV News that, the Shi’ites group during their road walk sighted police patrol vehicles and attacked them with sticks and dangerous weapons. Our source also said, the Shi’ites group members collected some rifles from the officers and started shouting. Our sources also noted that, the Police who fired tear gas at the group to stop them from attack but the Shi’ites group didn't stop but fired at policemen on the road.www.twitter.com/spyetv