Many Killed As Protesters Clash With Nigerian Police
At least three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites were reportedly shot dead on Thursday when they clashed with operatives of the Nigeria Police force during a pro-Palestine protest in Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Police Command meanwhile said the Shiites members started attacking the policemen who were drafted to disperse what the command described as “illegal” protest, and in the process, the protesters killed a civilian identified as Aliyu.
But members of Shiites in a counter allegation claimed that the police killed two of their men during the clash.
The protesters had come out to declare their support for the “oppressed” people of Palestine in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in the Middle East.
Shi’ites members, who reportedly started their protest from the premises of the Kaduna state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), marched through Muhammadu Buhari Way to the office of the National Human Rights Commission to submit their protest letter.
Minutes after the protest commenced, operatives of the Nigeria Police engaged the protesters, firing teargas and shooting into the air to disperse them.
The leader of the protesters, Aliyu Umar Tirmizi, who spoke during the protest was quoted as saying that “The Israeli occupiers have for the past 75 years been unleashing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid on the unarmed civilians that include men, women and children.
“They have murdered thousands of children and the aged and have demolished houses and worship places of innocent civilians. The Zionist Israel has abused the sanctity of the holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa and terrorized innocent worshipers who visit the place.
“In recent times the Zionist Israel has increased its atrocities on the good people of Palestine where they have been using internationally banned weapons on innocent civilians and even attacked hospitals killing innocent people. These atrocities are committed with full knowledge of the so-called United Nations who have remained silent and subservient to the wicked plots of the Zionist regime.
“It is an understatement to say that the United States of America is providing funds in the name of military aid worth $3.27 billion annually to Israel. The oppressed people of Palestine and indeed human-minded people from all over the world have risen against these atrocities.
“We are out to voice our support for the oppressed people of Palestine and to condemn the atrocities perpetrated by the Zionist Israel with support from America and Europe.
“We call on all kind-hearted individuals across the world to lend their voices in support of the oppressed Palestinians and condemn Israel and her cohorts. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all.”
Reacting to the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansur Hassan, said, “It is a lie to say that Police killed two Shi’ite members. We were only out to disperse the protesters because IMN is a proscribed organization in Kaduna State. They were protesting against the Israel and Palestine war, but this is not Israel, this is Kaduna.
“On the contrary, it was the IMN members that started firing at our men. They fired catapults with pellets at our men. In the process, they (Shi’ites) killed one civilian identified as Aliyu. They blocked the road, attacked innocent civilians passing.”
