The Shiites
group has accused the Kaduna State Police and other security agents of opening
fire on their during a procession to mark the yearly Qudus Day.
The group
also said the police used tear gas on their members in an attempt disperse them
during the peaceful procession, which resulted bodily injuries on many of their
members and the killing of one boy, who was allegedly shot.
A leader of
the group, Sheikh Yakubu Yahaya who spoke to The Guardian, lamented the
development and questioned the rationale behind opening fire on armless
citizens who were on a peaceful procession.
He alleged
that some governors may have been contracted to kill the Shi’ite group in
Nigeria, stressing that: “We have taken our case to Allah and will seek legal
redress accordingly as law abiding citizens.
“The
security agents in about 15 trucks heavily armed descended on the armless citizens on peaceful
procession. As at now, we are aware that one person was shot and several people
sustained various degrees of injuries.”
However, the
Anti-Corruption Network has accused the Kaduna State government of intolerance
of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiite, while calling
for fairness and justice to all and sundry.
Executive
Secretary of the organisation, Ebenezer Oyetakin who was in Kaduna to monitor
the procession, said at a press conference, after the Police dispersed the
group that “the Shi’ite sect is not a violent group that any government should
threaten their existence.”
Meanwhile,
the convener of Concerned Nigeria, Deji Adeyanju, was also in Kaduna to monitor
the procession to authenticate or denounce the negative narratives about the
Shiite group.
He said:
“What we experienced yesterday is nothing but the height of impunity where
security agencies saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the people
decided to use tear gas to disperse a peaceful procession to the point of
shooting with live ammunition.
“We
witnessed the police dispersing people who were on a peaceful procession with
tear gas and fired live bullet at them and it is rather unfortunate. We are
calling for the release of the leader of the IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky
and his wife according to the court ruling.
The Acting
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mustapha Mohammed confirmed the
development that security agents stopped the procession to prevent a break down
of law and order.
He added
that investigation into the matter was ongoing. He, however, did not confirm
any casualty as at the time of filing this report.
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