The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, has confirmed the arrest of 52 members of the Shi’ites group as a clash between the two led to the death of six people on Sunday.
The violent clash between members of the El Zakzaky movement (Shiites) occurred in the Berger area of Abuja.
Among those killed were two police officers, according to reports.
‘The Nation’ reports that chaos erupted when members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), identified as the Shiite group, allegedly attacked a police checkpoint at Wuse junction.
According to officers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, the attackers were armed with machetes, knives, and improvised explosive devices, described as locally made bombs in bottles filled with kerosene.
The clash led to the destruction of police patrol vehicles, with three vehicles set ablaze in the violent encounter.
In response, police officers engaged the group in a fierce battle to regain control of the area.
Motorists traveling through the affected routes were forced to take alternative paths to avoid the violence and potential damage to their vehicles.
The situation caused significant disruptions to traffic flow in the vicinity.
Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the attack left two police officers dead, three others unconscious and receiving treatment at a hospital, and three patrol vehicles destroyed.
“The situation is currently under control, and normalcy has been restored to the area”, Adeh stated.
As the investigation continues, the police have assured the public that any further developments will be promptly communicated.
