A violent confrontation between security forces and Shi’ite protesters in Abuja on Friday left at least five people dead and many others injured.
The clash occurred during an International Quds Day procession near Banex Plaza in Wuse 2.
The annual procession, held on the last Friday of Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians, saw thousands of Islamic Movement members marching through the city after Jummah prayers.
However, tensions escalated when military forces, using armored vehicles, blocked their route and opened fire.
A senior member of the movement, speaking anonymously to Vanguard, recounted the sequence of events.
“Today is International Quds Day, and we always show solidarity with Palestine. This morning, we received a memo allegedly from the National Security Adviser instructing security forces to act against the procession. We originally planned to gather at the National Mosque, but it was occupied. To avoid confrontation, we moved towards the Customs Office, only to be blocked near Wuse Market. We then proceeded toward Banex Plaza, where there was no visible security presence,” he explained.
“As our procession moved past Banner Junction, the military suddenly started shooting. There were no police officers, only soldiers. They brought an armored vehicle, blocked the road, and fired indiscriminately at unarmed civilians, including women and children. So far, five people are confirmed dead, many are injured, and several have been arrested. An eyewitness even saw a Hilux van carrying a body. We are now trying to move to safety,” he added.
The Shi’ite leader suggested that the crackdown may have been premeditated, citing the security memo allegedly issued earlier.
“We saw the memo, though we have not confirmed its authenticity. The version we received was stamped and signed, reportedly sent to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. Security agencies across the country were put on alert, but only Abuja experienced this level of violence,” he stated.
“This was purely military action. The authorities must explain why this happened. Just two weeks ago, the Foreign Affairs Minister expressed support for Palestinian freedom at a Muslim congress in Saudi Arabia. Every human being should stand for Palestinian rights, yet here in Nigeria, people are attacked for doing the same. More details will emerge,” he concluded.
The violence brought commercial activities at Banex Plaza to a standstill. Initial reports on social media mentioned one fatality, but the Islamic Movement later confirmed five deaths.
Another eyewitness, Terlula Michael, an engineer working in Banex Plaza, offered a different perspective on the incident.
“I saw protesters throwing stones at civilian vehicles. How is that a peaceful demonstration?” he asked.
The U.S. Embassy had earlier issued a warning about potential unrest linked to the IMN procession.
As at the time of this report, neither the military nor the Nigerian government had released an official statement regarding the deadly clash.
