A policeman was on Thursday killed
during a clash between his colleagues and members of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shi’ites in Kaduna state.
Many members of the sect also
sustained injuries in the clash which started on Wednesday.
Members of the group had trooped
out in large numbers to witnessed the the trial of Ibrahim Zakzaky, their
leader, at the Kaduna state high court.
Armed security personnel had
prevented the group from accessing the court complex along Bida road, Kaduna.
The situation became violent
around Ibrahim Taiwo Road as the Shi’ites pelted the officers with stones and
other dangerous objects.
Despite the release of teargas
canisters, the protesters trooped out en masse.
Aliyu Mukhtar, spokesman of the
Kaduna police command, said the deceased officer died after being hit by
objects thrown at him by the Shi’ites.
“It was a large crowd, the shiite
members as usual were hiding in the midst of people and when our men were
trying to disperse them, they started throwing stones at them,” he said.
“The policeman was hit with
stones several times and he fell down. He was taken to the Barau Dikko
Specialist Hospital were he gave up.”
He said 11 members of the group
members were immediately arrested while the situation had been brought under
control.
Meanwhile, Femi Falana, counsel
to Zakzaky, told reporters that the court did not sit and the case was
adjourned till July 11.
Falana also condemned the
authorities for barring journalists from the court, saying trial is public.
“Ladies and gentlemen you also
have a duty to insist on being part of this trial because it is a public trial.
It is your right to cover the proceedings” he said.
“What happened in court today is
that, the court did not sit. We were informed by the registrar of the court
that his lordship, Justice Gideon Kurada is indisposed. In the circumstance, we
have to take a date, the prosecution and defense counsel have agreed to come
back on 11th July to have possibly the arraignment and file an application for
bail for our client.
“So, that is where we are. We
don’t know the reason the judge is not in court but we were told he was
indisposed.”
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