The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shiites) has alleged that police operatives killed three of its members and injured 12 others in an unprovoked attack on Ashura mourners in Sokoto, contrary to the “mischievous press statement” the Sokoto police command issued that “neither a Shi’ite member nor anybody was killed or injured.”
IMN in a statement said policemen “unprovokingly” attacked Ashura mourners in Sokoto who were about to disperse, firing teargas canisters and live ammunition on Thursday, 19 August, 2021.
“Even though the police command in Sokoto claimed it acted professionally in quelling what it said was a clash between brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement and some Area Boys in Sokoto, it lied to the public, as if being transparent in its operations is not an act of professionalism.
Ibrahim Musa, President Media Forum of IMN, said there was no clash that warranted the intervention of the police in the first place.
“The Ashura mourning procession started from the Trade Fair on Kano Road, passed through NNPC to Mahmud Gumi road and ended at Madam Karo peacefully without any incident.
“It was while the closing prayer was being said that the police started firing live bullets at the mourners,” he said.
The group said it has in its possession the pictures of those killed and injured, which will be released to the public, to discern who the liar is in the killing of innocent citizens who came out to exercise their constitutional rights of freedom of association and religion.
It listed those killed by the police as: Bello Muhammad Illela, Imrana Umar Yabo and Hasan Abubakar Sokoto.
The group said 12 others were seriously injured and are being treated by the Islamic Movement.
It, therefore, called on the Sokoto State police command to own up to the cold murder of unarmed civilians on Thursday, and pay the blood ransom prescribed by Islamic Shari’a and offer apologies to the public for the erroneous press statement it issued in regard to the needless attack it carried out against the Ashura mourners.
“We believe this brutal attack on innocent mourners is a clear exhibition of religious intolerance by the state government. As such, we wonder how a state governor who couldn’t tolerate the religious freedom of his fellow Muslims can guarantee the religious rights of others of different faith when given the opportunity to serve at the federal level,” it added.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
