Igweh while reacting to the incident, also assured residents of the FCT that police have restored normalcy in the nation’s capital
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Benneth Igweh has expressed anger over an attack on personnel of his command, saying Shiites have declared ‘war’.
A riot erupted in the nation’s capital on Sunday when members of the El Zakzaky movement, popularly known as Shiites, clashed with operatives of the FCT command during a procession.
At least six persons, including two police officers were gruesomely murdered when the proscribed Islamic group launched an attack at a police checkpoint at Wuse junction.
Confirming the incident while addressing journalists on Sunday night, the CP said two police officers were killed, and four police officers, including a female, were unconscious at the hospital.
He added that three police vehicles were burnt by the Shi’ite members.
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He said, “The FCT police command wishes to confirm an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the ‘Shiite’ group, on some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to FCT command at Wuse Junction by traffic light, where two police personnel were killed, three left unconscious in the hospital, and three police patrol vehicles set ablaze.”
Igweh went on to say the proscribed organisation attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked, wielding machetes, improvised explosive devices – locally made bombs in bottles with kerosene and knives.
The commissioner of police vowed to bring those involved to book, adding that several arrests have been made.
“I want to tell them and assure them that for the fact they have started this war and provoked us, we are going to haunt them, we cannot leave it to go like that. We are going to haunt them, no matter where they are. I assure them very well that we are going to haunt them because the families of the policemen they have killed are crying.”
He further assured the residents of the FCT that the situation has since been brought under control and normalcy has been restored.