On Saturday, Nigerian police reported that they had come under heavy gunfire the previous day in a neighborhood of Abuja during confrontations between security forces and Shi’ite Muslim demonstrators, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Nigeria has experienced a history of violent confrontations between law enforcement and members of the banned Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), which seeks the peaceful establishment of an Islamic state in the country, Africa’s most populous.
On Friday, numerous IMN members marched in support of Palestine, but tensions escalated into violence when they clashed with military personnel and police.
Critics argue that Nigerian security forces have increasingly turned to force, including the use of live ammunition, to suppress protests, which may further radicalize groups like the IMN.
In a statement on Saturday, police accused the protesters of launching “a violent assault” against armed security personnel in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja.
“Police and security forces faced intense gunfire from the assailants, leading to serious injuries for three security operatives,” stated Josephine Adeh, the police spokesperson for Abuja.
One member of the security forces was reported dead, and 19 individuals were taken into custody.
Videos shared on the social media platform X depicted protesters waving Palestinian flags and throwing stones at a military vehicle, accompanied by the sound of gunfire.
see more: Togo Recently Passed a Climate Change Law.
Sidi Munir Sokoto, a senior member of the IMN, attributed the violence to the military, asserting that the protest was peaceful and estimating the death toll at five.
“This was the military’s doing. The military leadership must clarify the reasons behind this incident,” Sokoto stated.
An army spokesperson did not provide a response to a request for comment.
Isa Sanusi, the head of Amnesty International Nigeria, called for an unbiased investigation.
“The army employed live ammunition against the protesters. It seems they consistently approach IMN demonstrators with lethal intent,” Sanusi told Reuters, also estimating the death toll at five.
