A Police Inspector was yesterday killed, while scores were injured when the police and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, clashed again in Kaduna over detained IMN leader, Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky.
The police and IMN clashed for the second day running at the popular Ahmadu Bello Way between Katsina and Leventis roundabouts in Kaduna city, causing panic among residents, as major roads were blocked.
Our correspondent, who monitored the development, gathered that the Kaduna Central Market was deserted, leaving the traders and pedestrians fleeing when gunshots rented the air to scare the hoodlums.
Sheikh el-Zakzaky was billed to be arraigned yesterday at the Kaduna state High Court before Justice Gideon Kurada, following which the police cordoned off the area and major streets leading to the place as early as 6.00am, while motorists were diverted through secondary roads.
But the IMN members gathered around the Kano Road junction along Ahmadu Bello Way, from where they attacked two oncoming police patrol vehicles.
Blueprint gathered that while other policemen in the vehicle escaped and fled, the Inspector (whose name could not be ascertained), who drove one of the two vans, was unlucky as the protesters caught up with him, and stoned him to death.
And following the dastardly act, the police operatives became enraged and dispersed Shi’ite members who fled into Tudun Wada and environs, even as unconfirmed reports said further clashes occurred in the area.
As the situation appeared out of the police control, the military were later drafted to patrol the troubled area of Ahmadu Bello Way to restore normalcy in the area.
But the casualties could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Mukhtar, confirmed the officer’s death, adding that 11 Shi’ite members were arrested and would be charged to court.
As the situation appeared out of the police control, the military were later drafted to patrol the troubled area of Ahmadu Bello Way to restore normalcy in the area.
Falana explains judge’s absence
Meanwhile, counsel to Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, Femi Falana, SAN, said the arraignment of the IMN leader couldn’t take place as the court did not sit because the judge, Justice Kurada was indisposed.
A new date of July 11 has been picked for the arraignment.
Falana told reporters that, “what happened in court today is that, the court did not sit. We were informed by the Registrar of the court that his lordship is indisposed and in the circumstance, you have to take a date, the prosecution and defence counsel have agreed to come back on the 11th of July to have possibly the arraignment and file an application for bail for our client.
“That is where we are. We don’t know the reason the judge is not in court but we were told he was indisposed. We are prepared for the charges because as at today, the Nigerian state has been ordered to release our clients since 2nd December 2016.”
