Shiites Attack Troops As Army Confirms Three Dead

The Nigeria Army says Garrison Troops on official duty escorting ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect also known as Shiites at Zuba bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.

It said the sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal road block denying motorists free passage.

In a statement by the Commander of the Army headquarters Garrison, Major General James Myam said the troops’ convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect as members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items.

The statement said the group smashed both military and civilian vehicles’ windscreens and windows.

It said they also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting.

“This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoy’s rescue .Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility,” said the statement.

The statement said  normalcy has been restored in the general area and members of the public especially those plying the Abuja – Zuba Road are requested to go about with their normal activities with the assurance from the Nigerian Army that no individual or persons would be allowed to disturb public peace and unprovoked attacks against military convoys.