Clashes erupted in Nigeria between security forces and the supporters of an imprisoned Shia cleric marching in the capital, Abuja, on Monday.
Clashes erupted in Nigeria between security forces and the supporters of an imprisoned Shia cleric marching in the capital, Abuja, on Monday.
The army and police confronted hundreds of members of the Shia communitry the spokesman Ibrahim Musa told AFP, amid reports of casualties.
A witness told Reuters news agency that the military shot at the protesters who were marking Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam.
They were also demanding the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the country’s top Shia leader.
“The security agents attacked members of the Shia community when they were in the procession coming into Abuja,” Musa said.
“People were killed definitely,” said Musa, who was not at the procession and could not give a death toll.
“We don’t carry arms on our procession, we don’t block roads … the security agents have decided to shed our blood,” he added, according to Al Jazeera.
The group says Zakzaky must be freed after a court ruled his detention without charge illegal.
