HEALTH AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY, MOORE PLANTATION, PROTESTING OVER ONE
OF THEIR STUDENTS KNOCKED DOWN BY A MOVING VEHICLE IN IBADAN ON FRIDAY
(14/8/15).
5965/14/8/2015/MO/ICE/BJO/NAN
The deadly crackdown on the Shi’ite’s Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State by the military sparked protests in Kaduna and some cities in northern Nigeria as well as Iran on Tuesday.
While security forces and some members of the sect who regrouped in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna to protest the arrest of their leader (Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky) reportedly clashed, a large number of Iranians gathered in front of Nigerian embassy in Iranian capital, Tehran to register their protest over the development in Nigeria.
Though the Tehran protest was without incident except for the symbolic burning of UK and Israeli flags, about three persons reportedly lost their lives and scores wounded in the Kaduna protest.
Similar protests were held in Bauchi, Gombe, Kano and Gusau which ended without skirmishes.
According to an eyewitness account of the Kaduna clash, the Shiite sect members were preparing for a protest when the police came to disperse the crowd. Shortly after, the sect members regrouped at Tudun Nupawa where many of them were said to have engaged the police in a shootout, leading to injuries on both sides as well as deaths of about three Shi’ite members.
The clash took place on the day the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, led a Federal Government delegation to Kaduna State over the crisis.
The Minister held a close door meeting with Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the development before going to Zaria to ascertain what really transpired between the sect and the soldiers.
“I came to Kaduna to see the situation of things and I decided to see the Chief Security Officer of the state. I’m on my way to Zaria to see the situation of things,” Danbazau told newsmen at government house.
The military versus Shi’ite sect clash erupted last weekend when members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria allegedly blocked the Zaria/Jos Road, preventing Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s convoy from passing.
However, in a statement issued by IMN over the Tuesday clash, the sect also accused government of launching attack on its peaceful protest.
The statement read: “The mobile police unit (MOPOL) attacked a peaceful protest staged by the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Kaduna, killing three people on the spot, with many receiving gunshot injuries.
“As usual with such protest conducted by the Muslim brothers, it started peacefully from Layin Kosai area of Tudun Wada Kaduna. However, when it reached Tudun Nupawa near Enugu Road, MOPOL, in about five vehicles, opened fire on the protesters.
According to the sect, despite the fact that the main aim and slogans of the protesters was ‘Release Sheikh Zakzaky!’ “Enough is Enough!”; they were still dispersed by the police through sporadic shootings.
The sect claimed that about 9 police vehicles moved to the Markaz (Islamic Centre) of the Muslim brothers and opened fire there.
“As if in continuation of what the army started in Zaria over the weekend, report reaching us said many were killed or wounded there also. The question is, who are those in authority that are bent on creating chaos in Kaduna through such brutal attacks on ordinary unarmed people,” the sect queried.
By Olisemeka Obeche