Gunshots as Shi’ite protesters clash with police in Abuja

By Daniel Tyokua 

There was palpable fear around the Federal Secretariat and the central business district of Abuja on Thursday as sounds of multiple gunshots rented the air following a bloody clash between Police and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, known as Shi’ite. 

This followed a protest by the shi’ite members who stormed major roads in the heart of Abuja in the early hours of the day to demand that the Federal government reverses the travel ban on their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-ZakZaky. 

In a telephone interview with The AUTHORITY,  the Secretary, Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Abdullahi Musa, explained that the procession was aimed at forcing the government to restore the international passport of the IMN leader to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment. 

“Our members are protesting the refusal of DSS to release the Passport of El-zakzaky and his wife to travel for medical treatment.

“During our protest today (yesterday) police opened fire on our members and injured 8 members, but we will continue with the protest till our demand is met”

Musa  added that the procession was peaceful until the men of the Nigeria Police attacked and opened fire on their members, shooting eight in the process. 

He  vowed that members of the group will continue to occupy Abuja roads untill their demands are met.

The AUTHORITY recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja, had rejected an application filed by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, asking the Department of State Services to release his passport and that of his wife.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled that the Islamic cleric failed to prove that his passport was missing, despite the 10 exhibits provided by his lawyers, to prove that the DSS took the passports away, after his return from India in 2018.

The protesters were seen holding banners and placards that read, “Buhari must remove the travel ban on Sheikh El-Zakzaky.”