The Federal Government of Nigeria has continued to harass members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) despite the detention of their leader El-Zakzaky since last year.
In a peaceful procession that was carried out by its members on Sunday, the Police in the process of dispersing the crowd with tear gas fired live bullets, killing two.
They were however not apologetic, as they left the scene taking the two bodies with them.
In a statement signed by the body’s Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa said thousands of IMN members started the trek from Kofar Mazugal inside Kano metropolis in the morning around 10:00am, and observed afternoon prayers at Kofar Nassarawa and terminated the trek at Lado overhead bridge.
Trouble however started when mobile Policemen arrived the scene when people were dispersing, and started firing teargas and eventually live bullets.
“A Muslim brother and sister were confirmed shot and killed by the police and their corpses taken by their attackers. Many people were reportedly injured”.
Meanwhile, the local police spokesman in Kano, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said “we had an understanding with the leadership of the group on the need to suspend religious procession in the light of fragile security in the city and I don’t know of any death”.
This is however not the first time the Federal Government would be carrying out an attack on the Shia.
In November 2016, the group was also attacked after their yearly ‘Ashura’ procession.
In the following month, a Federal High Court asked the Federal Government to release the group’s leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat Malami who were in detention then.
The court also awarded N50m damages against the Federal Government and ordered the construction of a new accommodation for El-Zakzaky’s family in any part of Kaduna State or in the Northern region.
Recall that in December 2015, there was a clash between the body and the Nigerian Army where some members were arrested and some killed. El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested and have not been released since then, despite court ruling that they be released.
