Police, Shi’ites clash at NASS over continued detention of El-Zakzaky

ARMED soldiers, on Wednesday, took over the security at the main gate of the National Assembly, following a clash between the police and followers of the detained Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

The Shi’ites were said to be protesting the continued detention of their leader, El-Zakzaky and, in the process, the police  tear-gas them and made some arrest.

Eyewitness stated that the police blocked the roads leading to the National Assembly through federal secretariat to prevent the protesters from gaining entrance, while the military personnel from the presidential guard had to be mobilised to the scene.

It was gathered that during the fracas, some policemen and journalists were beaten up while a photojournalist attached to the National Assembly had his camera impounded.

The melee, it was gathered, lasted an hour, as all gates leading to the National Assembly complex were shut to prevent the members of the sect invading the premises.

The protesters, however, defied all moves by the security outfits to stop their protest, as they moved to the nearby Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs where some arrests were made.

A senior police officer at the scene told reporters in confidence that they were under strict instruction not to allow the sect to carry out any protest in the vicinity.