Leaders of the Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites have alleged five of their members were killed and several others were injured when they clashed with Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s convoy on Thursday.
One of the IMN leaders, Sheikh Aliyu Umar, who briefed journalists in Rigasa , Igabi local government area on Friday, said the IMN would be dragging the State Government over killings of its members.
But Kaduna Police Command said hoodlums suspected to be members of the IMN fired weapons, stones at the Governor’s convoy.
According to the Shi’ite leader, the incident happened on Thursday when members of the IMN were on their usual peaceful protest to demand release of Sheikh Zakzaky’s International passport to enable him travel.
Umar said: “On Thursday, we came out for our usual protest, because our leader (Sheikh Zakzaky) has since been released, but they refused to give him his passport to allow him travel abroad for medical checkup. Therefore, we use to come out to remind the world that, our leader is still denied his rights.
“So, yesterday, when we came out yesterday, we came out as usual, and as we came out from Gwamna Road, precisely at Bakin Ruwa, we met with the Governor’s convoy, and the security men in the convoy just opened fire on us right in the presence of the Governor. Instantly, five people were killed and about others were severely wounded.
“We have started hearing that, they are claiming we blocked the road and prevented the Governor’s convoy from passing. That is not true, we did not block the road; everyone knows that, we are very organized and we have our people that clear the road. So, we could not have blocked the convoy.
“Now, after we bury our dead, we are going to pray, then we will take legal action against the state government,” the Shi’ite leader said.
But the Police in a statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations (PPRO), DSP Muhammad Jalige said the Commissioner of Police, has ordered a full scale investigation to be carried out on the “attack on Kaduna State Governor’s convoy.”
DSP Jalige said: “Security operatives attached to the convoy of the Kaduna State Governor have cleared the Bakin Ruwa axis of Rigasa, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway after armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who attacked law abiding citizens and had prevented motorists from plying the route.
“The hoodlums in a large number were intercepted harassing innocent citizens on Thursday 16th March, 2023 at about 15:35hours when the convoy of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kaduna State arrived the scene.
“The hoodlums on sighting the convoy began firing weapons/stones hitting several private vehicles along with a few in the convoy.
“The security operatives professionally contained the miscreants without the use of force. Some of the hoodlums strongly suspected to be members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were arrested investigation in progress.”
The Nation
