BEVERLY HILLS, January 08, (THEWILL) –
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as ‘Shi’ites’, on Sunday, had a clash with the police during a protest against the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, in Kaduna on Sunday.
Three persons were said to have been wounded were receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
The State Police Command, in a statement issued by its Spokesman, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, confirmed the clash but claimed that only two civilians were injured, adding that nobody died in the clash.
He said the policemen were at the Leventis roundabout after receiving reports that the Shi’ites were about to embark on a protest march noting that the officers were on ground to disperse the protesters because of government ban on such protest in the state.
According to him, in the course of doing that however, there was an altercation between the protesters and the police and two civilians and one policeman were injured as a result of the disagreement.
But the Shiites’ Spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, insisted that one person was killed while several others were injured adding that their action became necessary in view of the deteriorating health condition of El-Zakzaky.
“It has been confirmed that one person was killed and several others were injured by the police,” he claimed.
“The Free Zakzaky Protests broke out in Kaduna along the Ahmadu Bello Way on Kano Road at 5pm on Sunday.
“The police shot sporadically to disperse the protesters thus forcing motorists and other road users as well as residents to scamper into safety.
“Free Zakzaky processions were carried out in major towns of northern Nigeria to press for the freedom of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky because of the news of his deteriorating state of health.
“Protests had taken place in Kaduna, Kano and Bauchi among several other places yesterday (on Saturday) night.”
