JUST IN: Morbid, frightening images from Shi’ites violent protest in Abuja…6 killed…

…CHANNELS TV reporter shot, many others injured

 

EMMANUEL OGWU/Reliablesourceng

No fewer than six persons have been reportedly killed and many others wounded as protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) today in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal capital, turned violent.

An unnamed CHANNELS Television reporter who was covering the protest was hit by stray bullet and currently battling to live, at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

Reports reaching us have it that members of the Shi’ites group had gathered at Nitel Junction in Wuse II district of Abuja, for a march to the Federal Secretariat complex in continuation of their protest against the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, by the government.

However, their street demonstration was said to have been interrupted around the Zone hosting the three organs of the Federal Government, by the Police and other armed security personnel.

The security agents condoned off the area, firing teargas to prevent the protesters from continuing their protest.

In the ensuing melee, sporadic gunshots were fired to disperse the protesters, while several vehicles reportedly belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the vicinity were set ablaze.

As at the time of this report the police have taken control of the area.

Images from the Shi’ites protest today, in Abuja Pictures: Channels TV/Sodiq Adelakun