Reports just coming in inform that Policemen from the Federal Capital Territory Command on Wednesday clashed with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to our sources in Abuja, the Shiite members were marching to the National Assembly in protest of the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, when the fracas ensued.

It was gathered that policemen fired tear gas canisters at the protesters as they tried to disperse the crowd.

This led to a confrontation between the Shiite sect and the Nigerian Police Force.

Many of the protesters were arrested during the clash.

The protest follows days after Human rights agency, Amnesty International called for the release of the sect leader alongside other members of the sect still in detention.

Leader of the Shiite sect, El-Zakzaky has been in detention since December 2015.

He alongside his wife were arrested after his followers blocked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and engaged soldiers in a violent confrontation which led to the death of over 300 Shiite members.

The Nigerian military has rejected the death toll.

An Abuja Federal High Court in December 2016 gave the Nigerian government an ultimatum of 45 days to ensure the release of the sect leader.

The 45-day deadline expired on Monday, January 16.

Below are photos from the scene of the clash as sent in by Olatunji Obasa: