By Amos Tauna
A human rights organisation, Anti Corruption Network, has accused governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria of being intolerant to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiite group.
The organization called on Governor El-Rufai to ensure fairness and justice in dealing with all and sundry in the state for peace, unity and development.
Executive Secretary of the Organization, Ebenezer Oyetakin, who was in Kaduna to monitor the procession of Shi’ite’s annual gudus day, said at a press conference Friday, after the Police had dispersed the group with tear gas and gun shots that allegedly hit one person and injured many, that the Shi’ite sect was not a violent group that any government should threaten their existence.
The Kaduna State Police and other security agents had dispersed the group who were said to be observing their annual qudus day through a peaceful procession with tear gas and gun shots with many injured and one young boy allegedly shot death.
He called on Nigerian government to thread with caution, to avoid the negative experiences of some countries when it’s citizens were pushed to the wall.
In the same vein, the convener of Concerned Nigeria, Prince Deji Adeyanju, who was also in Kaduna to monitor the procession as a way of authenticating or otherwise of the negative narratives about the shiite group, said, “What we experienced today is nothing but the height of impunity where security agencies saddled with the responsibilities of protecting her citizens decided to use tear gas to disperse a peaceful procession to the point of shooting with live ammunition.
“This is what we witnessed, police started with tear gas and fired live bullet and it is rather unfortunate. We are calling for the release of the leader of the IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife in accordance with the court ruling.
“The same procession took place peacefully in Katsina, Gombe and Nasarawa with no fracas of any sort, why should Kaduna’s own be different. What transpired baffled me because it was a peaceful process.”
Earlier, one of the leaders of the group, Sheikh Yakubu Yahaya lamented why security agents would open fire on harmless citizens on peaceful procession.
He alleged that some governors may have been contracted to kill the Shi’ite group in Nigeria, stressing, ”We have taken our case to Allah and will continue to seek legal redress accordingly as law abiding citizens.
“The security agents loaded in about 15 trucks heavily armed descended on the harmless citizens on peaceful procession, as at now, we are aware that one person was shot and several people sustained various degrees of injuries.
Meanwhile, Police spokesperson, ASP Mustapha Mohammed confirmed that it was true that security agents stopped the procession to prevent break down of law and order.
He added that investigation into what transpired was on-going but however did not confirm any casualty as at the time of filing the report.