15 killed as Shiites embark on Ashura match

0
858

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly called Shiite, has alleged that the police killed 15 of its members nationwide during the Ashura mourning procession on Tuesday.

The Ashura procession is an annual religious ritual carried out by the Shiite Islamic sect all over the world on September 10.

Spokesman for IMN, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, said in a statement that three persons died in Kaduna, six in Bauchi, another three in Gombe, two in Sokoto, and one in Katsina State during the processions.

According to Vanguard, Musa alleged that the 15 Shiite were killed by armed policemen who allegedly attacked the worshippers in a bid to disperse them during the sect’s street demonstrations.

“These casualty figures may however rise due to the fatal gunshot wounds sustained by some of the peaceful mourners.

“Today’s (Tuesday) show of shame and rage by the police across the states was sequel to the tragic orders given to it by the Inspector general of police, Mohammed Adamu to brutally attack the peaceful Ashura mourners,” he said.

The group also alleged that there were armed attacks on marchers in Katsina State while several marchers were also wounded in Illela, Sokoto State.

“There were also shootings in Lela, Sokoto state, Azare in Bauchi State and in Katsina State too, where the protest was held. They used teargas to disperse our members,” the secretary of the group’s academic forum, Mr. Abdullahi Musa, told Premium Times.

Regarding the killing in Kaduna, IMN’s media coordinator, Mr. Yahaya Muhammed, alleged that the three persons killed included a minor who were shot at while observing the religious ritual.

But the police denied the claim saying IMN was making up stories to win public sympathy.

Spokesman for the Kaduna State police command, Mr. Yakubu Sabo said in a statement that the police adopted a professional approach was used to disperse the IMN matchers.

“Based on the report we have, there was no casualty. We received a report that they were sighted around Biakin Ruwa bypass, and our men went there and dispersed them professionally.

“That has been their (IMN) approach to make frivolous claims. This is a group that has been proscribed by the state and federal government. The police will not fold its arms; we dispersed them professionally. There was no report of casualty. They are just making this claim to seek public sympathy,” he said.

In Abuja, the group defied the police warning and held the procession in Wuse.

Participants including men, women, and children held the procession for a few kilometres from Berger Roundabout to Wuse, and hurriedly concluded the exercise to avoid a confrontation with security personnel.

Punch reports that the procession which commenced by 8am lasted for about 25 minutes and caused traffic gridlock in the commercial area, but there was no report of any incident.

It would be recalled that Shi’ite had on Monday raised the alarm that the police were planning to attack the Ashura mourning procession holding in Abuja and other cities in the North.

The group said they had credible information that the police “will employ extrajudicial approach to assault, arrest or kill whoever participates in the religious event.”

Musa, who said this in a statement, invited religious leaders, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, the international community, journalists and the public to monitor the conduct of the Ashura procession “in order to expose those that are so desperate to cause violence for a pittance.”

Reacting, the warned the sect against carrying out the procession, stating that by virtue of the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice of July 26, 2019, the IMN had been proscribed in the country and cannot hold any procession.

Police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, said in a statement that any gathering by the Shi’ites “will be treated as a gathering in the advancement of terrorism.”

He explained that on procession placed by the police was only binding on the IMN.

He said all other Muslims were free to carry out the annual “Ashura” procession in line with their faith.

He said the inspector general of police, Mr. Muhammed Adamu had directed all the commissioners of police and their respective supervisory assistant inspectors-general of police in commands and zones to give full effect to the clarifications and ensure that non-IMN Muslims are not in any way restricted from exercising their freedom of religion, worship and peaceful assembly.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here