Tensions Between Shiites And Troops Claim 30 Lives In Zaria, Kaduna
Violence in Zaria, Kaduna State, continued for the second day in a row, as the troops reportedly opened fire again at the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Shiites, in the morning of July 26, 2014, Saturday.
According to unnamed Shiite sources of SaharaReporters, soldiers stormed Husainiyyah Baqiyyatullah centre of the sect about 9am, killing three people and leaving about ten persons with various degrees of injuries.
One of the victims was identified as centre staff Sani Sufi.
“Around 9 am, local time today, a group of soldiers in military vehicles and armored tanks, opened fire on people at the Husainiyyah, killing three people on the spot while injuring at least 10,” said the source.
The spokesman of the sect informed that the death toll of 2-day violence hit 30.
11 bodies of the people who were killed on Friday have already been retrieved, while 19 bodies were still in custody by the authorities and, therefore, unavailable for funerals, scheduled at 5pm (local time) at the time of filing the present report.
The source, however, expressed hope that the bodies of the deceased would be retrieved soon and the proper funeral “for the martyrs will be held all together”.
It would be noted that the leader of the group, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, lost three of his sons in the gun violence.
Related: Sheikh El-Zakzaky Speaks Out On Killing Of His Three Sons, Nine Others By The Troops
Currently, the Shiites accuse the Nigerian Army of killing 30 of their members in Zaria. The violence started yesterday, July 25, when military men shot at a march of Shiites, who were marking Al Quds Day, to support Palestine and condemn the Jewish State of Israel.
The protesters have reportedly blocked a major road in the city during the procession. They have also allegedly refused to clear it, when a truck load of soldiers was passing this very road.
The military men have reportedly shot into the air first to disperse the crowd, but, unfortunately, this made no positive effect.
Source: Legit.ng
