Four people, including the son of a renowned Islamic Preacher, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zazaki, were reportedly killed by soldiers on Friday afternoon, following a clash between soldiers and followers of an Islamic Movement popularly called Shi’ite at PZ area in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
An eyewitness account said that the incident happened when the members of the sect abducted 2 soldiers who attempted to stop the sect members from procession marking the Qudus Day, a day set aside by the Shi’ite movement in Nigeria in support of the Palestinian struggle in the Middle East.
The intervention of some soldiers to rescue their colleagues from the angry sect members numbering over 300 triggered the violence, as soldiers allegedly started firing gunshots to disperse the increasing crowd.
The clash, which lasted for over two hours, however, paralysed business activities in the ancient city, as traders hurriedly closed down their offices and shops and rushed to their homes for fear of being caught up in the attack.
Channels Television correspondent reported that the injured victims were rushed to a health facility in the city for treatment.
When contacted, spokesman of 1 Division of Nigerian Army, Colonel Usman Abdul, declined commenting on the matter, saying he was yet to get the full details of what happened.
