At least ten people were killed in a violent clash between members of the El Zakzaky movement, also known as Shiites, and officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in the Julius Berger area of Abuja on Sunday.
According to reports, the incident began when the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), identified as the Shiite group, allegedly attacked a police checkpoint at Wuse junction. The assailants were armed with machetes, knives, and improvised explosive devices, described as locally made bombs in bottles filled with kerosene.
In the ensuing clash, two police officers were killed, and three others were left unconscious and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Three police patrol vehicles were also destroyed in the violent encounter.
Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, confirmed the incident and condemned the attack, stating that the police officers were “unprovoked.” She noted that several arrests have been made, and the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, has vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
The situation caused significant disruptions to traffic flow in the vicinity, as motorists traveling through the affected routes were forced to take alternative paths to avoid the violence and potential damage to their vehicles.
The FCT Police Command has assured the public that the situation is currently under control, and normalcy has been restored to the area. However, the police remain on high alert and are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further outbreaks of violence as the investigation continues.
