A fresh protest against the continued detention of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, yesterday claimed the life of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Umar Usman. Usman was struck with a sharp object while trying to pacify the protesters. The police chief who was in charge of operations at the Federal Territory Police Command was taken to a hospital where he eventually died.
The protest by members of IMN, also known as Shiites, which began at the NITEL Junction at Wuse 2, Abuja was disrupted by armed policemen who had cordoned off the road leading to the National Assembly and the Three Arms Zone.
Commercial activities at the Central Business District came to a halt as people ran for their lives. The sect members had defiled the security arrangement to checkmate their protest as they invaded the Federal Secretariat, attempting to gain access to the National Assembly.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) outpost at the Federal Secretariat was overrun, with the building, an ambulance and another vehicle razed down. The Guardian learnt that no fire service officer was seen at the scene of the incident as fire razed down the entire outpost and the vehicles.
The secretariat’s car park was not spared of the attack, as five cars belonging to civil servants were also set ablaze. Explosions from the burning cars rent the air as many workers scampered for safety. But the security operatives successfully prevented the Shiites from entering the National Assembly. Many people were injured in the violent clash.
Yesterday’s incident came about two weeks after two Shiites were killed and two police officers injured in a similar protest that turned violent at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
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Following the violent protest at the National Assembly, the police last week directed that protests in Abuja be limited to the Unity Fountain, near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the yesterday’s bloody protest by the Shiites.
Buhari at the closed-door meeting directed the police boss to take steps to protect all Nigerians wherever they may be.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the IGP said: “We came this morning to brief Mr. President on the security situation in the country, especially the activities of the IMN. Just to give him an update of what is happening in the country vis a vis their activities.
“Specifically, we briefed him of the incessant act coming out of this group of people, protesting here and there. We briefed him on the fact that we have been able to curtail their excesses, and to let him understand that everything is under control.”
On the president’s reaction, Adamu said: “The president asked us to make sure we provide security for every citizen of this country and not to leave any space that some group of people will create for breakdown of law and order.”
