Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) loyal to Ibrahim El-Zakzaky on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to protest the continued detention of their leader.
Nine police officers were injured in the process as they were denied entrance at the second gate, after gaining access through the front gate by the three arms zone.
Channels TV reports that vehicles were destroyed and burnt, while nine officers sustained injuries to the head and leg when the protesters attacked them.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, two officers who were shot on the leg and seven personnel who sustained injuries during the clash, have been rushed to the hospital.
DSP Manzah added that 40 members of the sect have been arrested in connection with the violent protest, and investigation is in progress.
“Members of the sect during the violent protest shot two (2) police personnel on the leg, while clubs and stones were used to inflict injuries on seven (7) other policemen. The injured policemen have been taken to the hospital for prompt medical attention.
“Meanwhile, forty (40) members of the sect have been arrested in connection with the violent protest. Investigation is in progress. Those arrested in the process will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate law of the land.”The police have arrested 40 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who invaded the National Assembly complex, Abuja, and shot two policemen and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The two policemen were shot in the legs and are recovering in the clinic alongside six others injured with stones and clubs.
According to The Punch report, the Shi’ite members also vandalized several vehicles as they attempted to take over the building, but they were resisted by the policemen and other security operatives on duty.
The sect members have staged several protests over the continued incarceration of their leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky who had been in custody since December, 2015.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has visited the injured offices, but chose not to comment until he is fully briefed about the incident.
El-Zakzaky has been in custody since fighting between his supporters and the army broke out in December 2015.
Zakzaky’s supporters have repeatedly protested in Abuja and several northern cities against the continued detention of their leader.
