The police and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of
Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites clashed on Friday evening at the old
airport area of Sokoto.
Residents and passers- by had to scamper for safety as motorists
and those on foot deserted the area for fear of being hurt.
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There was however no casualty and confirmation of arrest,
the Nation reports.
It was learnt that the sect members, including males,
females and children, embarked on a procession rally shortly after Juma’at
prayer chanting” Free El-Zakzakky”.
The procession took them from Mabera Area through to
‘Masallaci Na Uku ‘along old airport where the clash occurred before it was
brought under control by the police who dispersed them.
However, confirming the incident that took some time to
quell, the Sokoto command PPRO, ASP Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq, said preliminary
investigation revealed that a group suspected to be members of the proscribed
Shi’ites mobilised themselves along old airport road without intent of carrying
out a procession.
According to Sadiq: “Upon confirmation of intention by
security operatives, the gathering was immediately dispersed using minimal
force, while the said suspected members got busy pelting stones on operatives
and operational vehicles with intent to escalate the situation,” he explained.
However, the command image maker said the police had brought
the situation under control shortly after the situation came to fore by Joint
Operatives.
He added: “The Sokoto state Police Command calls for calm as
normalcy has since been restored and urge members of the public to go about
their lawful businesses without any fear as the Command has emplaced adequate
security arrangements to forestall any reoccurrence of such as the Command
wishes all and sundry a crime free season”.
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