One person was reportedly shot dead by security operatives on Monday as members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiite, took to the streets of Abuja to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The Shiite members, who vowed to die for their leader, who had been in detention since December 2015, stormed the Federal Capital Territory in their hundreds.

They reportedly barricaded the ever-busy Federal Secretariat for almost 30 minutes and engaged members of the Nigeria Police in a violent clash.

The peaceful protest later degenerated into chaos, making commuters, traders and civil servants scamper for safety.

The protesters who were armed with stones chased away a police team and overturned a traffic warden cabin on the road.

They also reportedly injured the Federal Secretariat Divisional Police Crime officer in the face after he asked them to stop harassing motorists.

See photos below: