Heavy gun fire as soldiers clash with shiitees in Abuja
Several gun shots rang out from different areas of Wuse II – a burstling metropolitan district in Abuja Friday as soldiers clashed with shiitees leading to panic in some parts of the territory.
An eye witness who spoke on the basis of anonymity confided in Saturday Times that members of the Islamic group were protesting in support of Palestinians in the Middle East. Events turned violent as the protesters were said to have shot at soldiers on sighting them. The latter retaliated leading to chaos and panic among residents and motorists
Saturday Times recalls that shortly before the confrontation, the US Embassy had issued an advisory – cautioning that demonstrations from the Shia Muslims could lead to disruptions in parts of the city.
The memo alerted; “The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has called for demonstrations in Abuja and other major cities on Friday, March 28, 2025. Heavy traffic and other disruptions are possible. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations.”
According to the security advisory, protest locations may include: “Bannex Plaza, Berger Junction, Unity Fountain, National Human Rights Commission Head Office, Eagle Square, Area 10 Shopping Plaza, National Mosque, Al-Noor Mosque, and Fouad Lababidi Mosque.”
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On actions to be taken by residents, it noted “Avoid areas where protests are taking place. Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests. Monitor local media for updates. Be aware of your surroundings. Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency.Carry proper identification.”
As at the time of filing this report, however, road blocks were being removed from a few affected areas with normalcy gradually returning to the concerned district.
