By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
One person was allegedly killed and many others wounded, when police dispersed members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) yesterday to stop their street protest against the continued incarceration of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem elZakzaky.
IMN spokesman, Ibrahim Musa alleged that one of their members was killed by the police and several others injured during the altercation with police, with the injured persons believed to be receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
Spokesman of Kaduna Police Command, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu , however, said nobody was killed, adding that only the injured people, including the police sustained minor injuries. The “Free Zakzaky” protests broke out in Kaduna along popular Ahmadu Bello Way/Kano road about 5pm yesterday, even as the state government had outlawed street protest by any group or individual in the state.
Ibrahim Musa had earlier issued a statement saying, “free Zakzaky processions were carried out in major towns of Northern Nigeria to press for the freedom of Sheikh Ibraheem 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 night.
“In Kaduna, hundreds of members of the movement and sympathisers came out on at least three occasions to demonstrate in demand for immediate freedom for the Sheikh to enable him go to seek urgent treatment.”
Musa added, “also in other major cities, like Katsina, Zaria, Azare and Illela, brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement took to the streets in condemnation of the way the federal government is handling the health of the leader of the Islamic Movement now in illegal detention.” Musa later said one person was confirmed killed by the police.
“It has been confirmed one person was dead and several injured by police.” The Police PPRO in reaction to allegations that one person was shot dead said there was no death recorded during the Shi’ites protest in Kaduna. He added that when the police got wind of the protest by the Shi’ites, they quickly mobilised their men to go to the scene and disperse the protesters.
