On Sunday, a violent clash erupted between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Abuja. This confrontation led to the deaths of two police officers, sparking a heated dispute over the responsibility for the violence.
The IMN has firmly denied allegations that they were involved in the deaths of the police officers. Abdullahi Musa, a leader of the IMN, claims that their procession was peaceful and unarmed. He insists that the police began shooting at their group without any provocation. Musa accuses the police of deliberately framing the IMN by killing their own officers and then blaming the Shiite group.
Musa detailed that before the procession began, the IMN had informed both the public and the police about the event. He explained that the IMN had issued a statement and sent a letter to the FCT Police Command through their lawyer, detailing the procession’s route and purpose. The procession was part of a global event commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husain, a significant figure in Shiite Islam.
According to Musa, police presence was heavy, with armored tanks and armed officers stationed at strategic points. He claims that the police’s aggressive stance was unusual for what was meant to be a protected procession. When their route was changed to avoid confrontation, Musa alleges that police officers in plain clothes set fire to police vehicles and then accused the IMN of these acts.
In contrast, the FCT Police Command has accused the Shiite group of initiating an “unprovoked attack” at Wuse junction, leading to the deaths of the officers and the destruction of police vehicles. The police’s report claims that the IMN members were armed and that their actions led to the escalation of violence.
Musa refutes these claims, stating that their procession participants were only carrying placards and flags. He argues that if the IMN had been armed, the police would not have confronted them in the manner they did. Musa’s account paints a picture of a coordinated effort by the police to incite violence and then shift the blame onto the IMN.
He further asserts that the burning of police vehicles was carried out by undercover officers, not by the IMN members. Musa emphasizes that the group’s goal is to promote justice and oppose tyranny, not to engage in violent acts against law enforcement.
The clash between the IMN and the FCT Police Command has led to conflicting narratives about who is responsible for the violence. While the police accuse the IMN of initiating the conflict and causing the deaths, the IMN denies these allegations and blames the police for staging the violence. As investigations continue, the truth behind the incident remains contested.
