No less than eight people have lost their lives when soldiers opened fire on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), during their annual Arbaeen trek at Gwarinpa district on Abuja.
According to Vanguard, the armed men, who came in security patrol vans, stormed the area without notice to residents and opened fire on the sect members around 10:00 am. near the tricycle park at 3rd avenue, Gwarinpa.
A source who spoke to Vanguard said: “It was around 10:00 am we started hearing gunshots along the road. The shooting lasted about 10 minutes. But after the shooting, the soldiers appeared to have succeeded in thoroughly dispersing the Arbaeen trekkers.
“I can’t say how many people were killed but the corpses we have counted were eight. What I can tell you is that up to eight people were killed in the incident. Some of the passersby who had nothing to do with the Shi’ites may have also been involved.”
When contacted, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed the incident but could not provide casualty details.
The secretary, in a telephone call, said, “The Arbaeen trek is an annual street demonstration by Shi’ites globally. Since the military authorities demolished our Centre in Zaria, we have been leading the religious trek from here (Abuja). It began on Monday. However, we had hoped to conclude the activities today (Tuesday).
“So, we assembled at the Galadima gate (Charly Boy bus stop) in Gwarinpa around 9:00 am and staged our religious walk peacefully for about an hour. We neither made any demand on the government nor criticised anyone during the trek. It was purely a spiritual exercise for us.
“But as we were about to disperse, security operatives arrived at the scene and opened fire on our members, injuring many and killing some people. As for the casualty figures, I need to verify the numbers and get back to you, please.”
Earlier, the Shi’ites staged a similar street procession in Nyanya – Mararaba axis of the nation’s capital, which caused a major gridlock in the area.
Some members of the sect were seen with placards including portraits of the sons of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who lost their lives during the ‘Zaria Massacre’ of December 2015.
Speaking to newsmen after the trek, IMN’s Sheikh Sidi Sokoto, said: “Today, the general public has witnessed how the Arbaeen trek like those before ended without any attempt to curb the right of safe passage to other road users. No panic was created by our Arbaeen trek.
“Though we started with few people and confined ourselves to a particular place and recited some supplication, we thank Allah now; we trek in millions globally.
“This is the handwork of Allah, and not the trick or influence of anybody as no one forced us to trek, it is out of the free will and love for the family of the Prophet.”
