1 Killed as Youths Attack Shi’ites in Kaduna
One member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) was killed yesterday when the group attempted to clean and rebuild it’s centre destroyed by youths on Wednesday in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna State.
Parts of the state including Tudun Wada, Kinkinau, Kabala West, Unguwan Mu’azu and other communities along the Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass road were thrown into confusion due to the incident as shop owners locked their shops and fled.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday two people died in Kaduna, when some youths stormed the residence of the Shi’a leader and set it ablaze after they had concluded the Ashura day procession in the area. They also demolished an Islamic school belonging to the Shi’ites.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the youths raided shops and houses belonging to Shi’ites in Ungwan Mu’azu area of the state and carted away valuable items.
A resident of the area, Yakubu Mu’azu, said, “I took my children to an Islamic school and on my way back, I saw people running up and down. I later learnt that trouble began when the Shi’ites tried to place their flag in the premises of their leaders house that was burnt on Wednesday and I quickly went back to pick my children from school”.
Another resident who preferred anonymity said, “when the shi’ites came to clean the school, they were attacked by the youths. I learnt the Shi’ites retreated to Unguwan Mu’azu but the youth followed them there and confronted them with knives and clubs.”
He said the ban placed by the state government on shi’ites had brought more problems rather than peace and called on the state government to review its decision.
The President of the Media Forum of the Movement, Ibrahim Musa, when contacted said, “one of our members was killed and several others were injured, but we do not have the exact number”.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement said, “the Kaduna State Command has observed that some members of the public have become lawless and act in manners detrimental to law and order and in total disregard to rights of other citizens.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command hereby reminds the general public that the maintenance of law and order will not be compromised and anybody found committing acts detrimental to the peace of the society will be dealt with accordingly.
“The public are also warned to desist from taking laws into their hands as any attempt or repeat of the above mentioned unruly behaviours will be visited with the full wrath of the law”.