24 October 2015: Shia Muslims take part in a rally to commemorate Ashura in KanoReuters
LAGOS, Nigeria: Security forces opened fire on Shia Muslim pilgrims in northwest Nigeria on Monday, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) said.
People marching to mark the end of 40 days’ mourning for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, were targeted with live ammunition and tear gas in state capital Kano, the group said in a statement.
“Live shots are being fired by security forces at #ArbaeenTrek in Kano,” the Shia movement said. The statement was accompanied by photographs of three dead bodies.
Anadolu Agency was unable to independently verify the claims. Magaji Majiya, a Kano police spokesman, would neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
“We are in an operation at the moment,” he said when contacted by telephone. “I cannot talk to you now.”
The Arbaeen march sees hundreds of thousands of Shia trek from cities across northern Nigeria to converge at the IMN’s main office in Zaria, Kaduna state.
Kano and neighboring Kaduna and Katsina states have banned Shia processions following recent confrontations between the IMN and security forces. More than 300 Shia were killed in Kaduna last December by soldiers who opened fire in response to a purported attempt to assassinate the head of the army.
Shia chief Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat have since been detained by secret police and calls for their release or trial have been ignored.
Further confrontation between security forces and Shia marchers are likely, observers say, particularly at army cordons in Jos city, Plateau state.
