Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shi’ites have buried five of their members allegedly killed when police fired shots to dispense their procession in Kaduna on Friday.
The members identified as Mahamud Umar, Ibrahim Rabiu, Haidar Ishaq, Mustapha Buruku and Ahmad Mustafa, were buried according to Islamic rights.
Recall that the police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan, debunked the allegation that they killed IMN members, saying no live ammunition was used to dispense the procession but confirmed that three personnel were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Speaking after the burial, Aliyu Umar Tirmizhi, one of the leaders of the movement, said 25 people were injured, some of who are in critical condition.
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He frowned at the denial of the police on the use of live ammunition, saying, “There are video clips showing the police firing at our members which lead to the death of five.
“Unfortunately on Friday 6th, 2024, the well organized peaceful demonstration staged by unarmed men, women, children and even the physically challenged, to sympathize with the Palestinians and condemn the genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, the police with full combat-ready force came in tens of vehicles carrying heavy arms and clampdown on the peaceful demonstration.
“Not minding who were there, they started by throwing teargas and simultaneously shooting sporadically at women, children, physically challenged and men and onlookers present there, without any provocation.
“As a result they killed five innocent persons, including minors, and injured 25, with some of them in a very unstable situation. Those killed include; Mahamud Umar, Ibrahim Rabiu, Haidar Ishaq, Mustapha Buruku and Ahmad Mustafa.
“Unfortunately to the dismay of the general public and those that were present at the incident, the Kaduna Police Command, through its spokesperson, addressed the press and gave a contrary statement claiming that they never fired any shot. We stayed here, this is extremely economical of the truth and very shameful.
“We expected the police to have at least stated the crime we committed for attacking our peaceful demonstration and not to concoct fake stories to deceive the public whereas those in the areas it happened saw everything that happened.
“And another surprising thing is that the spokesperson of the Kaduna state police Command came out and said that we were arrested with deadly weapons, while everyone knows us, when we are conducting our activities, apart from the flags that we are raising. we don’t carry anything.”
He noted that there are video clips, still pictures and even media reports available to prove this, most of which are already viral on social media.
He asked the police to use such force on the kidnappers and bandits having a field day in the state and comb them out of the bushes rather than on innocent citizens.
“On a final note we wish to state categorically that we are not going to accept this extrajudicial act perpetrated by the police and shall seek legal redress before a competent court of jurisdiction in the country.”
“We reiterate that as Nigerian citizens, we enjoy the right to express ourselves, we have the freedom to choose whatever faith to belong to and to preach our creed in the peaceful manner we have conducted ourselves in decades.”
