The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly called Shiites have claimed the killing of at least a dozen of the sect members in some states of the nation by the police during Tuesday’s Ashura mourning procession to commemorate the death of their revered Shia imam, Hussein Ibn Ali, who died the battle of Karbala in Iraq.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa said that at least three people were confirmed killed by the police in Kaduna and 10 others injured, some fatally, when thousands of Muslim brothers and sisters trooped out in the early hours of Tuesday to commemorate the tragic events of Ashura.
He said further that in Bauchi, reports also have it that 3 people were killed during the Ashura procession when the police attacked the mourners. Likewise 3 other people were killed by the police in Azare, also in Bauchi state. Another 3 people were killed by the police in Gombe, Gombe state.
“One person was reportedly killed by the police in Illela, during the Ashura procession there, and another person was killed in Goronyo all in Sokoto state. In Malumfashi, Katsina state also another person was killed. In Katsina town however, several people sustained bullet wounds when the police opened fire on the mourners, not only during the mourning procession, but afterwards as the well armed policemen attempted to forcibly make their way into the Islamic centre of the Movement,” the statement added.
He noted that these casualty figures may however rise due to the fatal gunshot wounds sustained by some of the peaceful mourners.
“This year’s Ashura procession was held in all the state capitals of the North and Abuja. It ended peacefully in Abuja, Jos, Kebbi, Minna, Lafia, Yola, Gusau, Zaria, Kano, Jalingo, Damaturu, Hadejia and Potiskum.
“Today’s 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.
“That the mourning procession ended peacefully in places not attacked by the police is sufficient evidence as to who the instigators of violence are whenever we are carrying out our legitimate religious duties,” the statement added.
The group expressed gratitude to Allah the Almighty that has granted the members the courage to come out in several cities and villages across the country to commemorate the brutal killing of Imam Hussein (AS), the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S) as it is done in several cities across the globe, despite intimidation and threats by the federal government and its agents, acting on behalf of the Saudis by proxy.
Meanwhile the group ignored warning issued on Monday by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed to desist from their planned procession on Tuesday or face the consequences as such action will be treated as terrorism.
The IGP gave this warning in a statement issued on Monday by Force Public Relations Officer Frank Mba, adding that the group remains proscribed by the law.
The Shiites however staged their procession in some parts of the nation’s capital and no incidences of violence were recorded. As at the time of filing this report, police spokesman Frank Mba (DCP) did not pick calls made by our correspondent and did not respond to text messages sent to him on Tuesday.
The group’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, had told BusinessDay on Sunday that the procession will go on because it is a religious activity and the right of the Shiites as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. He had dared the police to prepare more bullets because the group will hold the procession.
The police have battled the group, especially when their leader in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zak Zaky was detained in 2015; following a clash between the sect and soldiers in the convoy of Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, which led to the death of many members of the sect in Zaria in December 2015.
They continued the protests demanding the release of Zakzaky. The latest round of protest was in July, 2019, when they clashed with the police in Abuja and the fracas led to the death of Deputy Commissioner of Police Umar Usman and a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Precious Owolabi, attached to Channels Television. The Government later secured a court order in July to tag the IMN as a terrorist organization and proscribed it.
Zakzaky was later granted bail by a Kaduna state High Court to seek medication in India. However, some disagreements over the scheduled treatment forced the Shiite leader to return to Nigeria. He has since been in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
