– Armed officers halt Shiites protest in Katsina state
– Governor Masari says the government will take all measures to ensure Katsina remain a peaceful place
A joint team of armed security personnel has on March 30, Wednesday, dispersed the yearly Maulud procession of Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise know as Shiites in Katsina state.
Daily Trust reports that as Shiites were gathering at central mosque early in the morning for the start of the procession, the armed officers halted them.
They also patrolled the main streets of the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari today in order to avoid breakdown of law and order.
The ‘Sayyada Zahara Maulud procession’ was an annual event organised by the movement to commemorate the birthday of daughter of Prophet Muhammad, Fatima.
READ ALSO: Nigerian army may have killed Shi’ite leader’s wife, son
Sheikh Yakubu Yahaya, the leader of the movement in the state, said about ten armed cars comprising an ambulance stormed the venue, seizing banners and flags which frightened the crowd.
He stated that it was an unfortunate incidence giving the coordinated operations of the security personnel adding that ‘we are in a state of fear and have resorted to prayers.’
In the same vein, the state governor Aminu Masari said his government will not compromise on security as it will not sit and watch what happened in Kaduna to repeat itself in Katsina.
“We will take all measures to ensure Katsina remain a peaceful place as it has been,” he said.
“We have no intention to trampled on rights of worship, but ones right stops at the door step of another. We will not allow group to take over public places for their procession.”
READ ALSO: Shi’ites protest arrest of their leader
On December 12-13, the Nigerian army claimed that Shia followers attempted to assassinate the Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
But this claim has been strongly rejected by the Islamic Movement and several human rights organizations who argue that the attack was pre-planned.
The Nigerian forces also raided the house of the Shiites leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and arrested him alongside with some other of his supporters.
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