By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigerian Police has confirmed the death of Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Usman Umar during a violent protest embarked upon by over 3,000 Shi’ite of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria on Monday at the Central Business District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The armed protesters who stormed the FCT to protest the continued detention of their spiritual leader El-Zazakky by the Federal Government since 2017, clashed with the police.
The protest within the Federal Secretariat, threw the area into confusion as commuters and vehicular movement was disrupted.
In the ensuing exchange of gunfire between the protesters and police, the DCP who is in charge of Operations, FCT Command, was shot and fatally injured. The officer who was immediately rushed to the hospital died moments later while receiving treatment.
Also, two (2) Assistant Superintendents of Police and a Staff of Channels Television sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment. The violent protesters also razed down a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Response Post close to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja and two (2) vehicles.
According the FPPRO, DCP Frank Mba, in a statement, the Police have arrested fifty-four (54) suspects in connection with the incidents. The suspects are undergoing interrogation and will be arraigned in court as soon as possible.
“The IGP, while commiserating with the family of the late DCP, condemns the incident and warns that Enough-is-Enough as the Force and the nation at large will not continue to suffer losses on account of reckless and lawless persons and groups in the society,” he said.
Death toll is said to be 12. Amnesty International reportedly said “six people were shot dead amid a reckless use of lethal force by the Nigerian police” during the protest, while the Shiite group, IMN, in a statement said 11 of its members were killed during the protest.
