The Police and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, otherwise known as the Shiites, have clashed during the Tuesday’s Ashura Procession in Katsina State, leaving scores of people injured.
A spokesman of the group in Katsina, Dr Abdulkarim Abdulmumin told The Nation on telephone that the procession which started at about 7.30 am was brought to an abrupt end around 8.30 am by the police.
According to him, the Police fired teargas and shot indiscriminately into the air to disperse their members.
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He said: “We divided ourselves into several groups and were peacefully marching through the street around Kofar Marusa area of Katsina when the Police intervened and several of our members were either arrested or injured in the ensuing fracas.’’
However, when contacted, the Spokesman of the state’s police command, Gambo Isah, said had earlier issued warning against any street procession the state, insisting that the command had to ensure the order was fully complied with.
Mr Isah, however, stated that while Muslims are free to commemorate “Ashura” throughout the country along with other Muslims across the world, the ban on processions was only applicable to members of the proscribed IMN members.
