Violent Clash Erupts Between Police and Shiite Members in Kaduna, Nigeria

A violent clash broke out between Shiite members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and the Police in Kaduna State, Nigeria, on Friday, resulting in casualties and injuries.

The incident occurred during a procession by the Shiite members to mark the International Quds Day.

According to Professor Dauda Nalado, a member of the IMN, at least four Shiite members were killed, and an unspecified number were injured in the confrontation with the Police.

The law enforcement officers opened fire to disperse the protesters, who had gathered in large numbers near the Katsina roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way.

The Shiite members were participating in a global event initiated by the late Imam Ruhullah Al-Musawi Al-Khomeini, which calls for solidarity with the people of Palestine and against the brutality of Israel.

The IMN, under the leadership of Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky, has been observing the event for decades in Nigeria.

The annual procession and the IMN’s support for the Palestinian cause were cited as reasons for the Zaria massacre executed by the Buhari regime in 2015, which aimed to crush the movement for justice.

The violent clash caused tension and unease among the citizens in the area, particularly those with businesses along Ahmadu Bello Way, as shots were fired by the Police to disperse the protesters.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and conflicts between the Shiite members and law enforcement in Nigeria, as well as the broader issues of religious freedom and the right to peaceful assembly.