By Stanley Sunday
Five members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria were reportedly killed by soldiers during an altercation in the Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.
It was learnt that the Shiites were having a protest which began from the Suleja area of Niger State when they encountered the soldiers around Zuba, a satellite area of Abuja.
The Shittes who were all dressed in black were marching from Suleja, Niger State to the capital city when things got out of hand.
They were to join their counterparts from other parts of the country in Abuja for a three-day mass march -Arbaeen Symbolic Trek- scheduled to commence on Sunday.
The Abuja march was also intended to demand the release of their leader, Shiikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since 2015.
Trouble started when the Shittes got to a security check point at Dan Kogi, Zuba, where the soldiers there asked them to turn back.
The Shittes refused and some of them allegedly began pelting the soldiers with stones.
The military men responded by opening fire which allegedly killed five of the men.
The source said: “The Shittes members were not perturbed by the death of five of them.
“They then began to block the highway, causing a massive traffic jam.”
A reinforcement of soldiers soon came from nearby Dei Dei, Dakwa and Zuba and they succeeded in dispersing the protesters.
While the confusion lasted, motorists, commuters and passers- by ran helter skelter for the safety of their lives.
Traders in the vicinity quickly shut their shops and took to their heels.
