The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has accused the police of killing not less than 12 members of the group during Ashura mourning across the nation on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
This was contained in a statement by the Media Team of the IMN, also popularly known as Shiites.
The statement said at least three people were confirmed killed by the police in Kaduna and 10 others injured, some fatally, when thousands of Shiites, both male and female, commemorated the tragic events of Ashura.
In Bauchi, the statement also said reports had it that three people were killed during the Ashura procession when the police allegedly attacked the mourners.
Three others were said to have been killed by the police in Azare, also in Bauchi State.
Another three were killed by the police in Gombe, Gombe State, the statement added.
One person was reportedly killed by the police in Illela during the Ashura procession there, and another in Goronyo, both in Sokoto State.
In Malumfashi, Katsina State, one person was reportedly killed, while many sustained bullet wounds when the police opened fire on the mourners, not only during the mourning procession, but afterwards as the well armed policemen attempted to forcibly make their way into the Islamic centre of the Movement in Katsina town.
The statement, signed by the President of the IMN Media Forum, Ibrahim Must, added: “These casualty figures may however rise due to the fatal gunshot wounds sustained by some of the peaceful mourners.
“This year’s Ashura procession was held in all the state capitals of the North and Abuja.
“It ended peacefully in Abuja, Jos, Kebbi, Minna, Lafia, Yola, Gusau, Zaria, Kano, Jalingo, Damaturu, Hadejia and Potiskum.
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019 . | Mustapha Henry
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019 | Mustapha Henry
Youth shot dead by police as Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019 | Mustapha Henry
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019 | Mustapha Henry
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Scene of Violence: Shi’ite protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Nigerian police officers evacuate the corpse of a Shi’ite youth killed during a protest in Abuja for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who has been illegally detained by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The protest happened on Monday, July 22, 2019
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria preparing the bodies of members killed when the Nigerian Army opened fire during the group’s protests in the capital Abuja in October 2018 | Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters
FILE: Shi’ite protestors marching to the Nigeria’s capital city Abuja in October 2018.
Nigerian police officers fire teargas at supporters of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as they protest against the imprisonment of their leader Ibrahim Zakzaky, in Abuja, on October 30, 2018. | SODIQ ADELAKUN / AFP
FILE: Bodies of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, who were killed after security forces opened fire during the Shi’ite group’s protests in the capital Abuja this week, are pictured before their burial in Mararaba, Nigeria October 31, 2018. | Reuters
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Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
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Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
Protests in London over the Zaria massacre of Shi’ites by Nigerian Army as President Buhari visits London on May 10 – May 14, 2016 for an anti-corruption summit | ABNA
The alleged mass grave location | FARS
The alleged mass grave location | FARS
Shi’ites made to lay down by Nigerian troops as the genocide was unfolding
One of the victims of the genodice against the Shi’ites in Zaria December 12 – 14, 2016
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Use and Kill: Leading Shi’ite Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky being wooed by Nasir El Rufai during the 2015 campaigns
Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a Shia group, demand the release of the group’s leader, Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, who was arrested on December 14, 2015. | AP/Muhammed Giginyu
People carry pictures of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky as they rally in Kaduna, Oct. 12, 2016.
Nigerian government troops raid the home of top Shia cleric Ibrahim al-Zakzaky in Zaria Photo | Press TV
Mallam Umar Qassem, one of the Shiites leaders shot by the Nigeria Police during a protest in Abuja died on February 6, 2018.
Islamic Movement leader Ibrahim El Zakzaky
Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky
Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky
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Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky pictured in his home in August 2015 | Musawi Hayatuddeen/IMN
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“Today’s show of shame and rage by the police across the states was sequel to the tragic orders given to it by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to brutally attack the peaceful Ashura mourners.
“That the mourning procession ended peacefully in places not attacked by the police is sufficient evidence as to who the instigators of violence are whenever we are carrying out our legitimate religious duties.
“We are grateful to Allah the Almighty that has granted us the courage to come out in several cities and villages across the country to commemorate the brutal killing of Imam Hussein (AS), the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S) as it is done in several cities across the globe, despite intimidation and threats by the federal government and its agents, acting on behalf of the Saudis by proxy.”
The Police had earlier in the day in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the ban on Ashura procession was specifically for the IMN.
Mba said in the statement: “Following the deluge of enquiries concerning the ban on procession on the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), it has become absolutely imperative to clarify that the ban on processions is applicable to members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria only.
“Against this backdrop, Muslims marking the commemoration of ‘Ashura’ throughout the country along with other Muslims across the world are free to carry out the annual ‘Ashura’ procession.
They should however do so within the confines of the law and guard against infiltration by unscrupulous elements who may want to take advantage of the event to cause disruption of public peace, order and security.”
Mba said IGP Adamu has directed all Commissioners of Police and their respective supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in Commands and Zones to give full effect to the above clarifications and ensure that non-IMN Muslims are not in any way restricted from exercising their freedom of religion, worship and peaceful assembly.
In the same vein, he said the IGP has enjoined members of the public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as the Force is doing all within its capacity to ensure there is no breach of the peace, law and order anywhere in the country.
