Some Irate youths in Tudun Wada community in Kaduna State have reportedly killed four members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in southern part of the state.
A member of the group, popularly known as Shiites, told Channels Television that the deceased lost their lives on Wednesday when a group of youths attacked them during a procession to mark their annual Ashura Day.
He also claimed that the angry youths burnt down the residence of one of their leaders and went ahead to demolish their Islamic school and houses in the area.
The incident was said to occur after a clamp down by combined security forces that prevented the Shiites from their planned procession since Tuesday.
Allegation Of Sponsoring Hoodlums
The Shiites also accused the Kaduna State Police Command of sponsoring the hoodlums to attack their peaceful procession and burn down some houses belonging to their members.
One of the leaders of the group, Mukhtar Sahabi, was allegedly killed and his house burnt down by the irate youths.
The police, however, denied the allegation of sponsoring any group to attack the Shiites.
Spokesman for the command, Aliyu Usman, stated that there was no reason the command would sponsor any group to attack members of the movement.
He said police officials were only deployed to the area, following a distress call that some hoodlums attacked a house belonging to one of the leaders of the movement at Tudun Wada area.
The police mouthpiece warned that the command would not tolerate any form of lawlessness by an illegal group or individuals.
He denied knowledge of any killing in the incident.
Usman disclosed further that security operatives had been stationed in the area and other flash points to maintain law and order.
An Illegal Association
Security operatives in the state had earlier stopped a procession by the group.
The disruption followed the Kaduna State government’s statement last week, which described the Islamic group as an illegal association and banned it from operating in the state.
After the ban was issued, the group vowed to challenge the ban.
The Shiites, however, ignored the order and proceeded with a procession to commemorate the annual Ashura festival in remembrance of Rhe Matrydon of the grand son of Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein.
A member of the movement, told Channels Television that security operatives allegedly attacked the procession with tear gas.
