The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has blamed the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) for the violence which led to deaths of some people in Abuja on Saturday.
Soldiers and members of the sect clashed during a procession staged by IMN in the nation’s capital.
“The manner of projectiles and other weapons unleashed on the personnel manning the checkpoint is a clear indication that members of the sect were using the so called ‘Arbaeen Symbolic Trek’ as cover to infiltrate Abuja to begin carrying out attacks as they had previously threatened,” Joyce Ogwu, executive director of the group said in a statement.
“The last time members of this outlawed group entered Abuja under the cover of a religious gathering led to weeks of confrontation with security operatives during which they destroyed vehicles parked on the streets and attacked anyone perceived to be unsympathetic to their cause”.
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Ogwu described the action of the Shi’ites as “wicked, unwarranted and unprovoked” .
“Even if the soldiers manning the check points acted not to allow armed persons free assess into Abuja it does not call for the kind of unwarranted and unprovoked attack unleashed on them,” it said.
“It is most unfortunate that this is not the first time of deploying violence against an institution of state as they had in the past killed military personnel at will and shoot at anyone that dares to rein them in when they engage in improper conduct.”
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The group further called on the armed forces and all other security agencies to be vigilant.
“If its antecedents are anything to go by, the group will attempt to shut down business activities in key parts of the city while attacking security personnel,” it said.
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