Five Feared Dead As Police Opens Fire On Shiites Members In Several States [Photos]

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites have accused Nigerian Police Force (NPF) of killing three of its members during Ashura mourning procession in Kaduna State.

Also, reports have it that one of Shiites protesters were each shot dead by armed policemen in Gombe, and Bauchi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shi’ite members were marching on the streets of Kaduna on Tuesday morning for their Ashura Day Procession when the police attacked them along the Western Bypass on the outskirt of Kaduna metropolis.

The media coordinator of the group, Yahaya Muhammed, claimed that three of their members, including a minor was killed while they were observing the religious ritual.

“In Abuja the procession was peaceful because the police could not stop us. ”Three persons were killed in Kaduna, including a minor.

In Gombe, there was shooting and one person was confirmed dead. In Azare local government (area) in Bauchi one person was confirmed dead,” TheCable reported him of saying.

However, the Nigerian Police Force described the claim as “a blatant lie,” noting that the group was making up stories to win public sympathy.

The force through its spokesman of the Kaduna police command, Yakubu Sabo, opined, “Based on the report we have, there was no casualty. We received a report that they were sighted around Biakin Ruwa bypass, and our men went there and dispersed them professionally,” he said.

”That has been their (IMN) approach to make frivolous claims. This is a group that has been proscribed by the state and federal government. The police will not fold its arms; we dispersed them professionally. There was no report of casualty. They are just making this claim to seek public sympathy.”