By Abdulmumin Giwa
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have been attacked been attacked by the Nigerian police in Kano using live bullets and teargas at the commencement of the peaceful annual Arba’een trek in which two people have already been confirmed dead.
Hussaina Dauda Nalado, an engineering student from Bayero University Kano is among those confirmed to have been extra-judicially mu/rdered by the Nigerian police.
Thousands of IMN members started the trek from Kofar Mazugal inside Kano metropolis in the morning around 10:00am, prayed afternoon prayers at Kofar Nasarawa and terminated today’s trek at the popular Lado overhead bridge.
It was while people were dispersing that mobile policemen arrived the scene and started firing teargas and eventually live bullets.
It is also confirmed that the police took away two corpses after murdering them in cold blood during the attack as many members of the IMN are reportedly injured.
Meanwhile a London based human rights group, IHRC, has issued a press release calling for restraint on the part of the police authorities.
“We are deeply concerned at reports of this build-up given the past attacks on the Islamic Movement by the police and armed forces. We demand the Nigeria police and authorities de-escalate the situation immediately,” said Islamic Human Rights Council (IHRC).
However while terminating the trek, a leading member of IMN, Dr. Sunusi Abdulqadir, called on members of IMN to go back home peacefully as they came, and return tomorrow to continue the march to Zaria.
abdulmumingiwa 