Stray bullet kills Nigerian journalist covering clashes
In Nigeria, a 23-year-old trainee journalist, Precious Owolabi, is now confirmed to have died
after being hit by a stray bullet during clashes between members of a pro-Iranian
Shia group and security forces in the capital, Abuja.
A deputy police commissioner, Usman Umar, was also killed.
The
pro-Iranian Islamic Movement for Nigeria (IMN) says that at least 11 of
their members were killed in the violence while
dozens of others were injured. The authorities have not given a death
toll, except for saying that one of their officers was killed.
Hundreds of followers from the Shia group were out on the
streets to demand the release of their leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who has
been detained since 2015
Mr
Owolabi was reporting on the clashes for national TV station, Channels,
where he was working as part of his national service - a compulsory
one-year programme for graduates in Nigeria.
Things are now calmer in Abuja, but the hostility between the authorities and
IMN members remains unresolved as the group vows to keep protesting on the
streets until its leader is released.
He was arrested four years ago following a military crackdown in which more than 300 IMN members were killed according to human rights groups.
The
Nigerian authorities have faced criticism for ignoring court orders for his
release.
BBC
No comments
Your comments and Encouragement are welcome