12 dead in Nigeria clashes between military and Shiite protesters
Amnesty International said soldiers fired live rounds at protesters as a form of crowd control – events the military disputed
The Nigerian military on Sunday blamed “violent” demonstrators who opened fire at security forces for clashes at a protest in the capital that left 12 dead.
The protest, held on Friday in Abuja by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), saw supporters of the banned Shiite movement gather for Quds Day, which is marked around the world with pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Eleven protesters and one soldier were killed, according to a government intelligence report seen by Agence France-Presse.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch said soldiers fired live rounds at protesters as a form of crowd control – events the military disputed.
“The protesters threw decorum to the wind, became outrageously violent by firing at and attempting to overrun security operatives deployed at anticipated flash points,” army spokesman Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said.
“Sadly, in the exchange of fire that ensued as the troops defended themselves, one soldier was killed in action while two were wounded.”
The IMN has been outlawed by Nigerian authorities for advocating an Islamic revolution in the west African nation. However at the time of its banning, in 2019, researchers characterised it as more interested in protest than political violence.