3 die in violent clash between police and Shiites in Kaduna

No less than three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) are feared dead in Kaduna State in the wake of a feisty clash with armed policemen yesterday.

The Islamic group, popularly known as Shiites, are said to have been celebrating Ashura Day when policemen shot the three victims at Hayin Bello area in Kaduna during the solemn Ashura session.

Speaking following the incident, the president, Media Forum of IMN, Ibrahim Musa, said:

“A police vehicle that brought the assailants fell into the gutter and went up in flames as they tried to disappear from the scene, thereby torching a nearby house.”

Mr Musa said that members of the Islamic movement were holding the annual Ashura (mourning) commemorative sessions before they were ambushed by men of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Reports reaching us confirmed that Governor Nasir el-Rufai, fresh from the pains of being disinvited to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference, and the support of that by IMN, has sent armed men and thugs to violently attack members of the movement who were conducting the Ashura session in Kaduna.

“At Hayin Bello neighbourhood, a team of policemen attacked a gathering of members of IMN holding the annual Ashura (commemorating the brutal assassination of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and killed three persons instantly.”

READ ALSO: Soldiers kill policeman in Port Harcourt

He further revealed the identity of the dead members- Abubakar Talle, Ali Rigasa and Hassan Aliyu, adding that many more brutalities was suffered from gunshot injuries.

“The police also vandalised the vehicles of those who attended the mourning session.

“This year’s Ashura started on Thursday, August 20, coinciding with the beginning of the new Islamic calendar 1442 in two other neighbourhoods and is scheduled to culminate on the 10th of Muharram next week,” he said.

The Kaduna State police command is yet to issue a response as at the time of filing this report.