A bloody gun duel between the police and members of Islamic movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known in local parlance as Shi’ite at the outskirt of Kan municipal claimed the life of a police sergeant and 20 members of the group Monday morning.
Scores of others that included women and children were injured during the mayhem that lasted 2 hours.
But the Kano Commissioner of police, Rabiu Yusuf put the official death figure at 9 including the police officer.
Ali Dan’Ali, a survivor told Vanguard that “at least 20 members of our group that included able bodied men, women and children were martyr by the police on our way Zaria”.
The bloody clash which occurred at Tamburawa general area, outskirt of Kano municipal by 8.00am was triggered by effort by the police to restored order on the strategic Kano–Zaria federal highway following report of breakdown of law.
Dan’ali said that ” we came under attack by the police around Amana city, and several hundreds were injured in what appear a coordinated attempt to broke our procession and disrupted the historic trek “.
Briefing Reporters in his office over the unfortunate incident, Rabiu Yusuf said ” thousands of Shi’ite members obstructed motorist and other road users free access to Kano-Kaduna express way”.
Yusuf said “they also attacked innocent citizens, damaged public and personal property thereby causing mayhem that could lead to general disturbance of public peace in the state”
Yusuf revealed that “a combined team of PMF,CTU, SARS and conventional police were deployed to restore peace came under attack”
Shi’ite members who were armed with bow and arrow, catapult with metalbolts, cutlasses attacked the police team and killed a police sergeant, and critically injured others”.
The police commissioner who was on ground during the bloody encounter disclosed that “they snatcher an AK47 riffle from a policeman and used on the security agents”
AK 47 riffle was recovered, 8 Shi’ite members were fatally injured and rushed to hospital were confirmed dead by Doctor on call”.Rabiu Yusuf revealed.
The commissioner said that normalcy has been restored, and therefore urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movement to nearest police station.
