Nigerian police reported on Saturday that they had come under intense gunfire the previous day in a neighbourhood of the capital, Abuja, during clashes between security forces and Shi'ite Muslim protesters.

The violence resulted in several reported deaths.

Nigeria has a history of deadly confrontations between security forces and members of the banned Shi'ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), which advocates for the peaceful establishment of an Islamic state in Africa’s most populous nation.

On Friday, dozens of IMN members marched in solidarity with Palestine. However, violence erupted when they clashed with soldiers and police.

Critics argue that Nigerian security forces have increasingly resorted to using force, including live ammunition, to suppress protests, a tactic they fear may radicalise groups like the IMN.

In a statement on Saturday, police accused the protesters of launching "a violent assault" on security personnel, who were armed with firearms and other lethal weapons, in Abuja’s Wuse 2 neighbourhood.

“Police and security personnel encountered intense gunfire from the attackers, resulting in the serious injury of three security operatives,” said Josephine Adeh, police spokesperson for Abuja.

One member of the security forces had died, and 19 suspects had been arrested, she added.

Sidi Munir Sokoto, a senior IMN member, blamed the military for the violence, insisting that the protest had been peaceful. He placed the death toll at five.

“This was the military. The (military) leadership must explain why this happened,” Sokoto said.

An army spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Isa Sanusi, head of Amnesty International Nigeria, called for an impartial investigation into the incident.

“The army used live ammunition on the protesters. It appears they approach IMN protesters always with the intent to kill,” Sanusi told Reuters, also putting the death toll at five.