Members of the Shi’ite group were holding the annual procession of
Ashura, and passing through some strategic areas in the Kano metropolis,
when they were attacked by youths, some of whom brandished knives,
swords, machetes and cutlasses.
The Kano State Police Command, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, who confirmed that
17 members of the group were injured, said the clash occurred at
different locations within the state metropolis including Kofar-Mata,
Murtala Muhammad Hospital and Kano Abattoir.
“We have rescued 138 members of the Shi’ite mostly women and children
and they are still under our custody. There was no death on both sides
and normalcy has since returned to Kano,” he told Daily Trust.
Mallam Sa’idu Isa Yakasai, one of the Shi’te leaders in Kano said they were attacked by hoodlums shortly after the procession.
“Scores of Shi’ite members mostly adults were injured during the
attack. I saw about 10 of our members who sustained various degrees of
injury in their head. I was able to rescue many children during the
attack. It was a coordinated attack. This is quite unfortunate. This is
not the first time our people organize such a procession. In fact it is
an annual event not only in Nigeria but worldwide and it is always
peaceful. Even this year’s procession was peaceful because it was after
the procession that the hoodlums attacked our people,” he said.
Photo credit: Sahara Reporters