The Nigerian Army has accused members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of attempting to cart away its ammunition and missiles. The Commander, Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison, Major General James Myam, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the incident occurred over the weekend around the Zuba bridge in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to the Garrison Commander, the alleged attempt by the IMN’s members, otherwise known as Shiites, resulted in a confrontation, which led to the death of three protesters, while two soldiers sustained injuries.
He said the troops were escorting the military hardware to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna, when they encountered an “illegal roadblock” mounted by the protesting Shiites on that corridor. “Troops of Army Headquarters Garrison on official duty, escorting ammunition and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some members of IMN sect at Zuba bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3p.m. on Saturday October 27.
“They (protesting IMN members) also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting,” Myam said. He said, apart from the blockade, which disrupted free flow of traffic on the ever-busy road, the protesters were seen pelting troops and other road users with stones and other dangerous objects. The encounter, the commander noted, resulted from attempts by troops to clear the barricade, to allow for unfettered access.
“The sect, which was supposedly in a procession, established an illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage. “When the troops’ convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect. “Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items. “They smashed both military and civilian vehicles’ windscreens and windows,” Myam said. He added that: “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, three members of the sect were killed while two soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility.” While noting that normalcy had since been restored to the road, the 2-Star General warned that the Army would deal decisively with attempts to disturb public peace “and unprovoked attacks against military convoys.”