Police Clash With Shiite Members Leave 3 Dead, Many Injured

There was pandemonium in Kaduna state, on Tuesday, December 15, following a bloody clash between police operatives and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Tudun Wada area of the state.

According to a resident of Tudun Wada, who spoke to Daily Post, the Shiite sect were organising a protest in a reaction to the arrest and

detention of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El zakzaky, by the Nigerian Army when police officials reportedly swooped on them.

The resident, who didn’t want to be named, said the Shiites members later regrouped at Tudun Nupawa area where many of the sect members said to have exchanged gun shots with the police, leaving three persons dead and many others injured from both sides.

Also speaking, a source at the police clinic situated on Independence Way Kaduna, told this medium that no fewer than four policemen were brought in injured, adding that one of them was in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, this tragedy reportedly happened during the visit of the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, who led a Federal Government delegation to the state to ascertain things for themselves.

Danbazau reportedly had a closed door meeting with Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on the happenings before heading to Zaria to also find out what actually happened between soldiers and the Shiite members.

The Minister, who spoke with journalists in Kaduna government house, said: “I came to Kaduna to see the situation of things and I decided to see the Chief Security officer of the state. I am on my way to Zaria to see the situation of things.”

However, Shiite members explaining their own side of the story regarding yesterday’s clash with police operatives, in a statement obtained by journalists in Kaduna state, said: “The mobile police unit (MOPOL) attacked a peaceful protest staged by the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Kaduna, killing 3 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 5 vehicles opened fire on the protesters. The main aim and slogans of the protesters was ‘Release Sheikh Zakzaky!’ ‘Enough is enough!’

“The protest was dispersed by the police by their sporadic shootings; however about 9 police vehicles moved to Tudun wada where the Markaz (Islamic Cenre) of the muslim brothers is situated and opened fire there.”

Recall that this tragedy started after Nigerian army alleged that the Shiites members attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, while plying the express road with his convoy to Zaira on Saturday. The military said it was at the time when the COAS was allegedly hit, that his security detail began shooting in the air to disperse the Shi’ites.  But the sect had reportedly denied the military allegation, describing it as “blatant lies.”