News

Threat of religious uprising in the North thickens

Published

10 years ago

November 14, 2016

Shi’ite Muslims confront Police in Kano
Many feared dead

The peaceful protest commenced by the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in the North over the detention of their leader, Sheik El-Zakzaky, is gradually being elevated to violent resistance and confrontation with security operatives. Accordingly, the incident is speedily creating fear of religious violence in that part of the country if the resistance continues.

Members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) had this Monday morning clashed with the Police in Kano city.

It was gathered that the confrontation with the Police started at Tamburawa, an outskirt of Kano metorpolis, when the Police attempted to stop a Shiite protest.

Several persons, including a police officer, were said to be killed in the confrontation.

The Police have since deployed heavily armed mobile police officers to the area while the major Kano- Zaria road is completely blocked.

The IMN had late on Sunday accused Nigerian soldiers of plotting to block its members heading to Kano from Yobe State while also planting weapons on them.

“Soldiers mounted a check point at the outskirts of Potiskum, Yobe state, probably to stop members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) from leaving the town to join others in this year’s annual Arbaeen Trek to Zaria, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) scheduled to commence from Kano this week,” Ibrahim Musa, a spokesperson for the group was said to have revealed.

“The soldiers detained a trailer carrying the personal belongings of those going to Kano for the trek today. Apparently, the soldiers have some sinister motives as they were overheard scheming to plant weapons in the luggage and thereafter claim that these bags with the weapons belong to members of the IMN,” he said.

“Throughout the nearly four decades of the existence of the IMN, it has never stockpiled, carried or used weapons. It never had any cause to, even in the face of provocation. IMN therefore wishes to alert the general public over this evil plot, and categorically reject and disown any attempt by the security services to plant any fake evidence against members of the Islamic Movement (IMN),” he stated.