By Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto
THERE was a clash Friday evening between the police and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, at the old airport area, Sokoto.
Residents and passersby had to scamper for refuge as motorists and those on foot deserted the area for fear of being hurt.
No casualty was recorded nor arrest made. It was learnt that the sect members (male, female and children) embarked on a procession rally shortly after Juma’at prayer chanting “Free El-Zakzakky.”
As at press time, our correspondent could not confirm if the sect obtained a formal permission, but the sect led procession from Mabera Area, through to ‘Masallaci Na Uku’ along old airport where the clash sparked off before it was brought under control by the police who dispersed them.
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However, confirming the incident that took some time to quell, the Sokoto command PPRO, ASP Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq, said preliminary investigation revealed that a group, suspected to be members of the proscribed Shi’ite sect, mobilised themselves along old airport road without intent of carrying out a procession.
According to Sadiq who just returned from a course, “Upon confirmation of intention by security operatives, the gathering was immediately dispersed using minimal force, while the said suspected members got busy pelting stones on operatives and operational vehicles with intent to escalate the situation.”
However, the command image maker said the police had brought the situation under control shortly after the situation came to force by joint operatives. “To this end, the Sokoto State Police Command calls for calm as normalcy has since been restored and urge members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without any fear as the command has emplaced adequate security arrangements to forestall any reoccurrence of such as the command wishes all and sundry a crime free season,” he said.
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