The protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria turned violent on Monday as the group allegedly shot dead a senior police officer.
DCP Umar Usman, who was in-charge of Operations at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, was reportedly gunned down as he tried to pacify the rampaging Shi’ite members.
The Shi’ite group disrupted commercial activities and vehicular movement during their protest at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
Punch reported that Umar was immediately taken to an undisclosed hospital where he died.
The protesters also destroyed vehicles while a Channels Television reporter was also hit by bullets. His identity and condition could not be immediately ascertained.
A police Inspector said, “The DCP was a very good man. We were at the mosque last Friday when he saw one man looking so haggard. The man told him how he had not been paid for over 14 months because he was unable to complete his (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information(IPPIS).
“On hearing that the man was an Inspector, DCP Umar hugged him and immediately made calls to the officers in charge of the platform and the budget office. Today, the Inspector has been directed to come to the IPPIS office for enrollment on the platform. His death is so shocking.”
The police are yet to officially react to the death of the officer.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was seen at the State House where he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday’s protest.
When contacted, the Abuja police spokesperson referred all correspondence to Frank Mba, the spokesperson at the Force Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Channels Television reporter hit by a stray bullet as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), (aka Shiites) clashed with officers of the Nigerian Police on Monday in Abuja has died.
The reporter, Precious Owolabi, who is a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was reported dead during the Channels Television 10 p.m. news bulletin.
