- * 'We Neither Shot Nor Injured Anybody, Only Went To Restore Peace Between Shiites And Area Boys', Says Police
By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiite in Sokoto, Shiekh Sidi Mainasara, has insisted that the Nigeria police lied, alleging that they killed 3 of their members and shot additional 15 others during their annual Ashura procession within the Sokoto metropolis on Thursday.
The Shiite leader stressed that IMN has been holding this Islamic new year procession for over 30 years in Sokoto, and wondered why such alleged unprovoked attack on their armless followers by security agencies who earn taxpayers money to protect the lives and properties of the citizenry should be carried out
Sheikh Mainasara also wondered why the police have refused to go into the forest where bandits are to arrest or even kill them, warning that they cannot continue to watch the Nigerian security agencies kill their members without taking legal and other relevant actions.
Giving insight into what transpired on Thursday, the Sokoto IMN leader said, they started their peaceful procession from NNPC mega filling Station along Sokoto/Gusau road and followed through the Sokoto bypass up until Mabera Madan Caro where they were to halt and pray for the country before leaving.
"Shortly after we began prayers, the Police Eagle Eye came in their large numbers and started firing gunshots into the midst of the thousands of worshipers that are there. In that process, one person was shot dead instantly, another one died a few minutes later and the third one died late in the night despite medical attention by our members. Fifteen others that equally sustain gunshots are still receiving treatments but we can't tell how their conditions will be for now".
The Sokoto police command had earlier in refutal by its spokesperson, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, denied killing members of the IMN, saying that the police only went to their procession venue to halt the crisis that erupted between the Shiite and some area boys.
ASP Sanusi said: "On Thursday 19th August 2021, a large group of Shi'ite members were on demonstrations along Mabera kantin Sani area, Sokoto. While on demonstrations, some group of area boys attacked them which resulted to crises between the duo. On receiving the distress call, a team of policemen was deployed to Mabera kantin sani in order to curtail the situation and restore peace in the area.
"The police carried out this exercise professionally and in line with the due procedure without any act of injury or mayhem to the members of the public. During this exercise, neither Shi'ite members nor anybody was killed or injured as purportedly claimed by some conventional and social media outlets". NNL.