Six persons were feared dead on Saturday while one sustained injury during a clash between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly called Shiites and some soldiers around Zuba town in Abuja.
Our correspondent learnt that the group was holding a procession to commemorate the 40th days’ anniversary since the celebration of the annual rally of the death of the grand son of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussain, when the incident happened.
He learnt that the procession which started from Suleja town in Niger state went peacefully and was about to be rounded off around 2pm today, at an open field close to the Zuba fly-over where the members converged and prayed, when the incident happened.
A member of the group who spoke to our reporter said they took three dead bodies to Suleja while leaving the scene. He later said he learnt that the police in Zuba have taken another three to their division headquarter thereafter.
Commenting on the incident, the Divisional Police Officer of Zuba, CSP Fodio Sani, said the police later invited some leaders of the group who identified the three bodies as their members.
He added that a police team have been directed to follow the group to Suleja to ascertain the identity of other three persons earlier taken away by the group.
He said the police have taken the only injured victim to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital at Gwagwalada for medical attention.