10 arrested, 2 injured as mob attacks Shiites in Kaduna

•Nigerian Shiites during a procession.

Two children were reported injured in Shiite movement clash with community during an annual procession in Kaduna, witnesses sect told our reporter.

The incident occurred around 1pm when the Shiite sect resisted mob action to disperse the group during the annual procession along Kasunwan Barci round about, Tudun Wada, Kaduna.

Witnesses who spoke to our reporter said traders closed their business and some people of the area also sided with the mob that attempted dispersed the sects.

Mallam Danbatta, an eye witness said the mob were attacking vehicles of the sect with clubs and other dangerous weapons as they try to flee the area.

“We were watching from a storey building where my family and I took refuge as the mobs in their dozens destroyed vehicles of the Shiite members who attempted to speed off the scene along Kasuwan Barci round about to Maimuna Gwarzo junction.

“The police followed with tear gas and gun shots to dispersed the clash. It’s a terrible experience,” he said.

Awwal Haruna, a shop owner in Kasuwan Barci said he sustained bruises while trying to save a Shiite member who ran for safety from being lynched by over 20 irate youths.

“Some youths would have killed one Shiite member in front of my shop and cause wahala for us. I even sustained bruises while trying to prevent them from attacking. He narrowly escaped with wounds,” he said.

Malam Yakubu Yahaya, leader of the Katsina chapter of the Shiite sect, while confirming the two injured while addressing a press conference after the incident in Kaduna, however, accused security agents of mobilising the mob action against the sect.

“The clash is not between us and the community. It is government that mobilised some youths with 15 police and army vehicles who fired tear gas and live bullets at us.

“We have two casualties, a boy and a girl whom the security have taken with them. The boy is currently in a hospital receiving treatment from gunshot wounds by the police,” he said.

The name of the boy with the gun shot injury is given as Hussaini Saeed, son of on Dr. Mustapha Umar Sa’eed, a member of the sect.

Kinsley Umoh, an Army Colonel and Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army, when contacted on phone, confirmed the arrest of 10 suspects, adding that the army arrived after the police had taken care of the situation.

He said the procession is peacefully in Zaria, Katsina and some other places, but that of Kaduna witnessed a clash between the sect and the Kasuwan Barci community.

“The report we have is that normalcy has returned to those area around Kasuwan Barci.

“The civil disturbance you heard about was between some members of the shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria and some members of the community there.

“As I speak to you, we have actually made about 10 arrests because of that incident and is still being investigated.

“But, police have returned normalcy. The army arrived after the police had taken care of the situation,” he said.

Aliyu Usman , spokesperson of the Kaduna police command, could not be reached as his phone was switched off. He also did not reply a text message sent to his number.