Police officers in Abuja came under attack on Sunday when members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiites, launched a deadly assault on a police checkpoint at Wuse Junction.
The attack resulted in the deaths of two police officers and one civilian, with three officers left unconscious.
Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, said the IMN members wielded machetes, improvised explosive devices, and knives in the unprovoked attack.
“The proscribed organisation attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked, wielding machetes, improvised explosive devices: locally-made bombs in bottles with kerosene, and knives,” Adeh said in a statement.
FCT Police Commissioner Benneth Igweh condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“While several arrests have been effected, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, condemns the unprovoked attack on Police officers. He promises to bring those involved to book. The situation is presently under control and normalcy restored,” Adeh stated.
Eyewitnesses reported that the IMN members were demonstrating to commemorate the 40th day after their Ashura anniversary when the attack took place.
“They pelted the officers with stones and seized guns from the police. They overpowered the police, so they had to run for their lives,” one eyewitness recounted.
The attack also left three police patrol vehicles destroyed by fire.
The situation was brought under control, with police operatives restoring normalcy to the area.
The FCT Police Command has pledged to provide further updates on the incident as more information becomes available.
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