The FCT Police Command said nine of its personnel sustained injuries when members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria popularly called Shi’ite forcefully invaded the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Two of the Policemen were shot while seven others were injured with stones and other objects.
The Police however said 40 members of the group have been arrested for the various roles they played during the protest.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma, in a statement in Abuja explained the protesters started in a peaceful procession.
He stated they later became violent and attempted to force their way into the National Assembly.
Ciroma said his operatives on the ground acted proactively and professionally by using minimum force to disperse the protesters.
On the casualty figure, Ciroma said: “Members of the sect during the violent protest shot two police personnel on the leg, while clubs and stones were used to inflict injuries on seven other policemen.”
He added that the injured policemen have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for prompt medical attention.
On the number of arrest, he said: “40 members of the sect have been arrested in connection with the violent protest.”
The Command while stating that investigation was in progress said those arrested will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate law of the land.
The Command, while recognising the rights of citizens to peaceful procession, stated that it will not tolerate an attempt by any individual or group of persons to cause the breakdown of law and order.
It urged FCT residents to go on with their lawful activities, stating that adequate security measures have been emplaced by the Command to forestall any security breach.
