Despite a Monday violent confrontation with police in which live bullets were allegedly used, supporters of leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky have converged on Abuja for day three of a protest to demand his release.
El-Zakzaky has been held by the Nigerian government without trial since December 2015, when a violent confrontation between members of his group and Nigerian soldiers led to the alleged killing of hundreds of the group’s members.
Members of the Shi’a group were said to have started converging near the National University Commission’s office in Maitama at 12.50pm for the commencement of the day’s protests.
The situation was said to have created panic among residents and commuters who feared that the protest could turn violent again.