Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) said one of its members was killed by the police and 12 others injured during Maulud processions in the northwest Kaduna city.
IMN in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said its member was shot dead by the police during a procession in Zaria, Kaduna State and 12 others wounded in Zaria and Kaduna.
“The Islamic Movement buried one of its members Muhammad Salis who was shot dead by a team of policemen shortly after the yearly Maulud procession that took place in Zaria city to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad,” the group said.
It said at police unit arrived the scene of the procession while the members were dispersing and “started shooting live bullets sporadically at close range, killing one and injuring 8 others.”
He also said the police Kaduna metropolis “enacted a similar scenario, shooting at peaceful Maulud procession along a popular area (Ahmadu Bello way). He however said nobody died among the four persons that sustained injuries allegedly from police bullets.
But the police in a reaction maintained nobody died in the procession, adding that they only dispersed a proscribed group from procession.
“The Command received reports from good samaritans at about 1545hrs (on Thursday) that, some members of the outlawed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were sighted at the Central area of Kaduna Metropolis and our operatives promptly responded.
“However, on sighting security agents, the protesters melted into the mass population of men and women who were maning their legitimate businesses within the market area. There was no encounter whatsoever with the Police and no casualty was recorded as well,” Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna State Command, Yakubu Sabo said in a statement.