The Nigeria Army on Monday blamed members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria [IMN], also known as Shiites, for the faceoff that left three dead and four soldiers injured.

The Army, in a statement, said members of the sect had overrun some police operatives and forced their way into the troop’s checkpoint, forcing both the police and army to jointly repel them.

The clash between the army and Shiite members was the second in two days. The group were said to have been peacefully protesting the continued incarceration of their leader, Ibrahim El-ZakZaky.

READ ALSO! EL’RUFAI TO CHANNELS TV’S MAUPE! Maybe you need a lesson in English

The Statement reads,

Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed on routine duty at Kugbo/ Karu bridge checkpoint of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were attacked by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at about 3:00 pm on 29th October 2018”.

“The sect in massive numbers forced their way into the troops’ checkpoint after overrunning the Police Force. The Police withdrew back to own troops position to join efforts to repel them. They fired weapons at own troops, throwing bottle canisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic”.

“However, Troops repelled the attack in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force to stop the situation from further deteriorating.
Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 4 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility”.

“Meanwhile, the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored in the general area and there is free flow of traffic”.

READ ALSO! HE DOES NOT NEED A CERTIFICATE TO BE PRESIDENT! Buhari is qualified by Law to contest, says Kayode Ajulo

“Members of the public living within Abuja and environs are enjoined to go about their normal activities without fear of molestation. The Nigerian Army will not deter in carrying out its constitutional roles and also safeguarding law-abiding citizens”.