Gunshots, panic as police, adamant Shiites clash in Abuja -

Aggressive members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, who continued their protest for the third day in Abuja on Thursday, clashed with the Police who later tried to disperse them with sporadic gunshots and canisters.

The gunshots and tear gas canisters by the police saw panicked road users scampering for safety around the Federal Secretariat.

BusinessDay learnt that the police arrested over five of the Shiite members in the process.

They have been protesting the continued incarceration of their leader, Ibrahim Elzakzaky by the Federal Government.

The violent protesters had stormed the National Assembly Complex, on Tuesday causing mayhem and forcing the Law makers to abruptly adjourn plenary.

They vowed on Wednesday to continue their protest until their demands were met, insisting that they were not afraid of death

Details later…

Onyinye Nwachukwu

Onyinye Nwachukwu is the Abuja Bureau Chief of BusinessDay, overseeing coverage across Abuja and Northern Nigeria. With more than two decades of experience in economic and financial journalism, she reports on business, policy, and market trends, linking local developments to the global economy. A fellow of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and recipient of the P. Vishwanathan Memorial Award for Excellence in Financial Journalism, she is known for her insightful storytelling and interviews with senior policymakers, diplomats, and business leaders. Well traveled and globally minded, Onyinye brings depth and international perspective to her reporting.