…suspects arrested, perpetrators will be brought to book -Police
An alleged unprovoked attack by some members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, on Sunday left two police officers dead and three others unconscious, police sources say.
The Shiite is a minority sect in Nigeria’s approximately 86 million-member Muslims fellowship and is mostly found in Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna.
Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the attack which occurred on Sunday and said it was unprovoked. Adeh further said the group destroyed three police patrol vehicles.
Adeh said the IMN members attacked some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the FCT command at Wuse Junction by a traffic light.
“The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the ‘Shi’ite’ group, on some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to FCT Command at Wuse Junction by the traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital, and three Police patrol vehicles set ablaze,” Adeh said.
She said the assailants wielded machetes, Molotov cocktails (bottle bombs) and knives.
“The proscribed organisation attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked, wielding machetes, improvised explosive devices (locally made bombs in bottles with kerosene), and knives,” she said in a statement.
Reacting to the incident, the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, condemned the attack.
Noting that several arrests have been made, the CP pledged to bring all the perpetrators of the attack to book.
According to the statement, the situation has been brought under control as at the time of reporting as police operatives have restored normalcy to the area.
“While several arrests have been effected, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, condemns the unprovoked attack on Police officers.
“He promises to bring those involved to book. The situation is presently under control and normalcy restored,” the police spokesperson stated.
She also said that the FCT Police Command would communicate further developments to members of the public in due course.
