Deadly Clash in Abuja: Two Police Officers Killed, Shi’ites Claims Multiple Deaths

On Sunday, August 26, a clash between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, and police officers in Abuja resulted in a deadly confrontation that led to at least two fatalities and left others with various degrees of injuries.

The violence erupted in the Wuse area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the Arba’een symbolic trek, a religious observance by the IMN members.

According to a statement released by Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, the clash resulted in the deaths of two police officers and left three others seriously injured.

“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,” Adeh stated.

The police spokesperson accused the IMN members of initiating the attack with machetes, improvised explosive devices, and knives. She added that several arrests had been made and that normalcy had been restored to the area.

In contrast, the IMN provided a different account of the events. Sidi Mainasara, the spokesperson for the group, alleged that police officers attacked their peaceful procession, leading to the deaths of several mourners.

“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,” Mainasara claimed in a statement.

He further noted that the police were actively arresting participants in the trek and that medical practitioners were attending to the critically injured.

The IMN spokesperson also mentioned that the Arba’een trek conducted in other locations, such as Masaka and Zuba, had concluded peacefully and without incident.