Army maintained three killed, three injured from Shi’ite movement protest

By Punarimam Fehintola

The Nigerian Military has denied being involved in a horrific use of excessive force with the police that led to the killings of some members of the islamic movement of Nigeria popularly known as shi’ite during a protest in the federal capital territory as alleged by amnesty international.

In a statement signed by the acting director defense information Brigadier general John Agim says “ it is  a worrisome narrative of the Amnesty International (AI) in matters of national security and cohesion of Nigeria has continued unabated in spite of verifiable evidences to the contrary”.

Agim further explained that “On the events referred to by the AI, the soldiers were not after the protesting Shi’ites, neither was there such number of casualties. Instead, a convoy from the Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja was conducting a routine shipment of ammunition and missiles to a military formation in Kaduna escorted by troops when they ran into the protesters at Zuba in FCT.  The protesting Shi’ites prevented the convoy from proceeding on its mission but rather attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the shipment. Hence, the troops had to protect the goods and extricate themselves from the imminent mob action by applying minimum force”.

Agim also said the following day, the IMN also had another confrontation with the military at a popular checkpoint along Nyanya – Mararaba road leading into the FCT.   Everyone living in or transiting the FCT knows that the military checkpoint had been established since 2014 after the Boko Haram Terrorist attack on Nyanya Motor Park. Unfortunately, the group tried to overrun the checkpoint in which the military resisted. In all these attacks, the IMN was the aggressor while the military only acted in self defense.

“The Shi’ites actions were planned and premeditated as the group were aware of the existence of the military checkpoint and were prepared to confront the soldiers. The casualty of IMN stands at 4 wounded and 3 dead at Zuba while at the Nyanya – Mararaba road checkpoint, 3 died with 3 wounded. The military also had 6 of its personnel seriously wounded and currently at intensive care”.

John Agim stressed that Amnesty International did not see anything wrong with these unprovoked subversive attacks on Nigerian military and other innocent passersby but was quick to refer to the activities of IMN from whom dangerous weapons and ammunition including Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), guns, knives and cutlasses were recovered as a peaceful protest.

The shi’ite movement have been protesting across the country over the continues detention of its leader  Sheik El- Zakzaki by government.