The Shi’ites protest in Abuja
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Islamic Movement of
Nigeria (IMN) has waded through barricades mounted by security agents,
and marched through Abuja in protest.
The protesters, who came from different states, arrived Abuja
through Kubwa expressway, wielding portraits of their spiritual leader,
Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, as well as flags with Arabic inscriptions.
Efforts by a combined detachment of armed policemen and soldiers to
prevent the group from proceeding with the protest proved futile, as
they waded through the security barricades.
The protesters, who converged on Abuja from different states across
the nation, defied a heavy downpour as they chanted: ‘Free Zakzaky’;
‘Free Our Leader’.
The group later ended the protest at Citec bus stop, near Gwarinpa,
a few meters away from Abuja. They, however, vowed to enter the city
centre on Monday.
The Shi’ites protest in Abuja
Those who came in through Mararaba-Nyanya axis were stopped at
Abacha Barracks by stern-looking anti-riot policemen drafted to the
area. It was gathered that several gunshots were fired into the air to
disperse the crowd.
On Saturday, the group had addressed a press conference during
which it stated that more than one million followers of Sheikh Ibraheem
El-Zakzaky would converge on Abuja on Sunday to embark on the ‘Arbaeen
Symbolic Trek’.
Five members of the group were allegedly shot to death by the
Nigerian Army, during a violent clash at Zuba in Gwagwalada Area Council
of Abuja on Saturday.
The situation led to pandemonium, as many vehicles were vandalised and residents were seen scampering for safety.