Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), led by Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky, have demanded that the police bring to justice the killers of their members during the recent Quds Day procession in Kaduna and Zaria.
They warned that if the perpetrators are not apprehended, they will resort to legal action.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Professor Abdullahi Danladi, the chairman of the Resource Forum of IMN, emphasised that the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
He stated that seven IMN members were killed during the Quds Day event – five in Kaduna and two in Zaria.
Danladi criticized the police for using force against innocent citizens, urging them to focus their efforts on combating kidnappers and other criminals rather than targeting peaceful protesters.
He explained that the International Quds Day is observed annually as a day of solidarity with Palestinians and oppressed people worldwide, following the instructions of the late Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini.
Danladi underscored the significance of the event and condemned the violence perpetrated against IMN members during the procession.
The IMN’s call for justice highlights their determination to seek accountability for the loss of lives during the Quds Day event and reinforces their commitment to nonviolent activism in pursuit of their cause.
“The well-organized peaceful demonstration staged by unarmed men, women, children and even the physically challenged, to commiserate with the Palestinians and condemn the genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, the police with full combat-ready force came in tens of vehicles carrying heavy arms and clamped down on the peaceful demonstrators.
“As a result of the crime committed by supposed to be law enforcement agents, 7 innocent persons were killed (5 in Kaduna and 2 in Zaria), including minors, and over 40 persons injured, with some in very critical conditions.
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“Those killed include Mahamud Umar, Ibrahim Rabiu, Haidar Ishaq, Mustapha Buruku, Ahmad Mustafa, Mustapha Adam, and Ammar Abdullahi Jahadee.
“However, Allah restrained their arms from shedding the blood of the innocents. The second phase of the procession that took place after Friday prayers in Sabon Gari of Zaria was violently attacked leaving two people martyred with several others with life-threatening degrees of injuries.
But the police had earlier denied the allegations levelled against it by the movement calling on them to show them the dead bodies of the dead.
Speaking in an interview, the police spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan challenged the Islamic group to show the dead bodies of those were killed.
“We got the information that the members of the proscribed IMN were going to hold a massive protest in the state and the command deployed its men to most of the strategic places to stop them from blocking the road, especially Ahmadu Bello Way Kaduna.
“On sighting our men deployed there, the IMN members started throwing stones, firing catapults, and locally made guns against our men which led to three of our men sustaining injuries and now receiving treatment at a police clinic.
. TheWitness
