The proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites have denied claims that they murdered two police officers during a clash with the security agency.
Bellnews recalls that two police officers were gruesomely killed on Sunday, following a bloody clash between operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and members of the IMN.
The command while reacting to the incident, accused the Shi’ite sect of an “unprovoked attack” on its men at Wuse junction by a traffic light.
The command said the group attacked its men with stones, wielding machetes, locally made explosives, and knives.
However, the IMN, while speaking with The Whistler, denied the allegations by the police.
A leader of the IMN group, Abdullahi Musa who led the procession on Sunday in Abuja, told the publication that the police command opened fire on its unarmed” members during a procession, which he described as “religious” observed by Shi’ites across the world.
He insisted that police officers in plain clothes killed their colleagues so they could put the blame on them.
Musa explained that the two-day trek which kicked off on Saturday, was aimed at joining its members around the globe in solidarity against the brutal assassination of Imam Husain (AS), a revolutionary leader who sacrificed his life fighting against injustice, tyranny and oppression.
Musa revealed that contrary to the narratives of the police, its members had duly informed the public, through a statement and the FCT Police Command through a letter, issued by its lawyer before embarking on the procession.
He said, “Before we embarked on this procession, we had issued a statement since Friday, to let the public know that the usual Arbaeen trek is going to take place on Saturday and Sunday, and this statement was published
“The commissioner of police was invited and he was fully aware. Before we came in the morning, they had asked us where we were starting the procession and we told them. We decided to divide ourselves into two. The initial plan was to take off from Banex so that people could converge at the Wuse market bridge.
“Unfortunately, early in the morning on Sunday, the police went and dropped six vans of fully armed policemen at Banex and Berger under the bridge. When we saw this, we decided to change routes, so we would not have issues with them because we know they usually attack us.
“If police came to protect you, would they come with armoured tanks and boxes of ammunition? Will they come to protect you during a procession, is that how they do? because this is not the first time, they always attacked us.
“We decided to go to Wuse Zone 3 junction and then trek to Wuse market, but before we arrived at Wuse market, we heard that they had arrested some of our brothers and sisters.
“We didn’t talk to them, but as we arrived at Wuse market, Wallahi, I swear to God almighty, I was in the front, and we were holding placards and citing in Arabic, ‘Imam Husain, we are with you and we are matching in solidarity’ and carrying flag signifying ‘Ashura’ and these people opened fire, not even tear-gas.
“They opened fire with live ammunition, I was there, and everybody started running. So, I am not aware of all these allegations they are saying that our people killed police. How? Were we armed? We were not armed. We were only carrying placards. Is a placard a weapon? If the people knew that we were armed, they would not face us.”
In a further response to the police report of razing police vehicles, Musa said, “Today we found out that there is a brother who was arrested by Policemen in mufti, looking like Agberos (touts). It is the policemen in mufti that set those vehicles ablaze.
“If there is any officer that was killed, he was killed by his fellow officers in mufti or uniforms. We do not kill anyone, but advocate for a better life for Nigeria.”