Scores Killed As Shiite, Police Clash In Kano

Members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) on Monday morning
clashed with the police in Kano.
A witness said the clash started around Tamburawa, on the outskirts of
Kano city, when the police tried to stop a Shiite protest.
Over a dozen people including a police officer are feared killed from the
violent clash.
The police have since deployed heavily armed mobile police officers to the
area while the major Kano- Zaria road is completely blocked.
The IMN had late on Sunday accused Nigerian soldiers of plotting to block
its members heading to Kano from Yobe State while also planting weapons on
them.
“Soldiers mounted a checkpoint at the outskirts of Potiskum, Yobe state,
probably to stop members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) from
leaving the town to join others in this year’s annual Arbaeen Trek to
Zaria, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) scheduled to commence
from Kano this week,” Ibrahim Musa, a spokesperson for the group said in a
statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES.
“The soldiers detained a trailer carrying the personal belongings of those
going to Kano for the trek today.
“Apparently, the soldiers have some sinister motives as they were
overheard scheming to plant weapons in the luggage and thereafter claim
that these bags with the weapons belong to members of the IMN.
“Throughout the nearly four decades of the existence of the IMN, it has
never stockpiled, carried or used weapons. It never had any cause to, even
in the face of provocation.
“IMN therefore wishes to alert the general public over this evil plot, and
categorically reject and disown any attempt by the security services to
plant any fake evidence against members of the Islamic Movement (IMN).”
The spokesperson for the army, Sani Usman, could not be reached to comment
for this story. Multiple calls to his telephone did not connect.