At least 20 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, a Muslim Shi’ite sect, sustained varying degrees of injuries when police operatives dispersed them during a procession to mark International Quds Day in Kaduna on Friday, April 14, 2023.
Yunusa Lawal, one of the movement’s leaders, claimed that they were on a peaceful march to protest the continued illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel when the police allegedly attacked their members.
Mr Lawal stated, “About 20 of our members suffered varying degrees of injuries, with two of them, including a woman, sustaining gunshot wounds. However, we cannot ascertain whether there is any casualty or not.”
He further explained the group’s stance on the matter: “Apartheid Israel continues its illegal occupation of Palestine. Incessant terror attacks by the Israeli brutal forces are being done frequently. The gross violations of human rights against Palestinians become the order of the day.”
Lawal also pointed out that the Islamic Movement has been observing International Quds Day for decades in Nigeria and condemned the continued denial of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Muallima Zeenah, their travel passports to enable the couple to travel for medical treatment.
When contacted for comment on the situation, Kaduna Police spokesperson DSP Muhammad Jalige did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.
