- Police dispersed them as they moved towards Leventis overhead bridge, causing panic among residents, prompting shop closures along affected routes
There was tension in Kaduna as police clashed with proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) members during their procession near Katsina Roundabout.
IMN, banned by former President Buhari’s administration, holds processions on the last Friday of Ramadan. Police dispersed them as they moved towards Leventis overhead bridge, causing panic among residents, prompting shop closures along affected routes.
A member of the sect who spoke with punch on condition of anonymity, said, “We call the last Friday of the Ramadan week procession – the musahara – and it is organised to celebrate and mark the end of Ramadan fast for that particular year.
“Why would the police therefore disperse peaceful procession?”
The incident, which caused pandemonium in the state capital, followed the efforts of the police operatives to disperse members of the Islamic group who were holding a procession in the city centre.
When the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aliyu Usman, was contacted
he confirmed the swift intervention of the police which he stressed helped to contain what would’ve snowballed into another major crisis across the state.
Usman disclosed further that the Command arrested eight members of the IMN group and that the police also recovered among others from the Shiites, a locally fabricated gun, 30 catapults, several bows and banners.
According to the police spokeman, “following the intelligence report we received, our men quickly mobilised to the Ahmadu Bello way and Central Market area where law abiding residents were being prevented by the group from carrying out their lawful activities and businesses.
“Upon sighting our officers, the sect members started hauling stones at them. Many of them were using catapults to stone our officers who were on lawful duty.
“We had to respond by deploying minimal force, and teargas which led to the arrest of the eight suspects now on our custody. We also revovered from them 30 catapults, a locally fabricated gun, and bows.
“In fact, in the process of the operation, three of our officers were injured, and they are receiving treatment now. But our timely intervention has led to the restoration of the peace and calm in the area, and the people are now going about their lawful activities and businesses.
“We are monitoring the situation as our men are fully on ground and the arrested suspects would be thoroughly investigated and charged to court,” Usman said.