Many injured as Nigerian police, army teargas protesting Shiites in Abuja

A combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army have dispersed protesting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites with teargas in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Shi’ites on Thursday continued their protest to demand the release of the passports of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, who had been acquitted and discharged by a Kaduna high court.

The protest, which kick-started at Federal High Court in Maitama was abruptly terminated at the Eagle Square near the Federal Secretariat, when armed security operatives arrived and opened fire on them.

The incident led to pandemonium in the area as passers-by were seen scampering to safety.

Many protesters sustained varying degrees of injury while others were seen lying unconscious on the ground after being hit by teargas canisters.

Though at the time of filing this report, it could not ascertain if any death was recorded.

It had been reported how IMN directed its members to resume protests across the country to demand the release of the passports seized by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.