Two unidentified members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria were killed by mobile policemen in Kano who were drafted to stop the Arbaeen annual trek that started peacefully in Kano.
Thousands of IMN members started the trek from Kofar Mazugal inside Kano metropolis in the morning around 10:00am, prayed afternoon prayers at Kofar Nasarawa and terminated Sunday’s trek at the popular Lado overhead bridge.
It was while people were dispersing that mobile policemen arrived the scene and started firing teargas and eventually live bullets. A muslim brother and Sister were confirmed shot and killed by the police and their corpses taken by their attackers. Many people were reportedly injured.
When news spread that mobile police had laid siege on the Arbaeen trekkers in the outskirts of Kano, a London based human rights group, IHRC, issued a press release calling for restraint on the part of the police authorities.
“We are deeply concerned at reports of this build-up given the past attacks on the Islamic Movement by the police and armed forces. We demand the Nigeria police and authorities de-escalate the situation immediately,” said Islamic Human Rights Council (IHRC).
However while terminating Sunday’s trek, a leading member of IMN, Dr. Sunusi Abdulqadir, called on members of IMN to go back home peacefully as they came, and return tomorrow to continue the march to Zaria.
