Pandemonium broke out in Kaduna following the killing of two passers-by on Thursday, when security operatives dispersed members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shites during a protest condemning the ongoing war in Palestine.
It was gathered that the protesters who were marching towards to office of the National Human Rights Commission to submit a letter in support of the people of Gaza in Palestine met stiff resistance from the security agents and in the ensuring drama a commercial motorcycle operator ( okada man) and another person were feared dead.
Speaking in an interview, an eyewitness told newsmen that shortly after the Shiites began the procession, police operatives fired teargassed and shot sporadically to disperse the protesters.
“Stray bullet killed the Okada man but his passenger was lucky, he survived. The Okada man has a twin brother who later came and held his dead brother, crying.
It was gathered too that about 200 meters along the Sokoto road near the Chicken Market, stray bullet also hit another passer-by who was not even a shite member, and he died.
Speaking on the protest a shite leader, Aliyu Umar Tirmidhi, told journalists that they were on a peaceful procession to protest against the killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
According to him, “the Israeli occupiers have for the past 75 years been unleashing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid on the unarmed civilians that include men, women and children.”
“They have murdered thousands of children and the aged and have demolished houses and worship places of innocent civilians. The Zionist Israel has abused the sanctity of the holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa and terrorized innocent worshipers that visit the place.”
“In recent times, the Zionist Israel has increased its atrocities on the good people of Palestine where they have been using internationally banned weapons on innocent civilians and even attacked hospitals killing innocent people. It is an understatement to say that the United States of America is providing funds in the name of military aid worth $3.27 billion annually to Israel.”
“The oppressed people of Palestine and indeed human-minded people from all over the world have risen against these atrocities. We call on all kind-hearted individuals across the world to lend their voices in support of the oppressed Palestinians and condemn Israel and her cohorts. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all.”
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hassan, blamed the protesters for the crisis.
He alleged that only one person was killed by the protesters (shites), saying, “Our men were on the street to ensure that there was no breakdown on law.
He also exonerated the police for the killings, saying, “Our men were not responsible but them.
“They used a crude weapon to kill the person that died. Only one person was killed”.
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