Kano – Some angry youths on Wednesday chased away members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria popularly known as Shi’ite who came out in a procession in defiance of police order.
An eye witness, Muhammadu Yusuf, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that the incident happened around 1 p.m. at Kofar Mazugal in the abbatoir area.
Yusuf said the incident happened when the Shi’ite sect moved in a procession toward Abdullahi Bayero Jama’at Mosque, Fagge, where they normally convene before going round the city.
He added that the members blocked schools and markets around the area which angered some
people and as a result, angry youths came out with weapons, including machetes, sticks and knives in order to attack the Shi’ite members.
On sighting the mob, however, the Shiites took to their heels.
NAN reports that the quick intervention of policemen deployed to the area to maintain peace and order prevented what would have been a bloody clash between the sect members and the youths.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.
He said that the incident took place around the abbatoir area when members of the sect blocked some schools and markets around the place.
He added that the police had to rescue scores of women, children and the aged to safety, noting that “some members of the public stoned and attacked them but we had to rescue some women, children and the aged.
“We rescued between 40 and 50 persons and they are now in our safe custody,” Majiya said.
He dispelled the rumour that some people were killed during the fracas, adding that no casualty was recorded.
He, however, explained that the command had taken proactive measures to maintain law and order and that normalcy had since returned to the area.
“We have deployed a good number of policemen to strategic places in the state to prevent possible outbreak of law and order in the metropolis,” he added.