TEHRAN, November 7 - Nigerian security forces have opened fire on the supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during an annual religious procession in the country’s north, killing four people.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -The attack took place on Sunday, when the IMN members were peacefully marking the annual Arba’een mourning rituals in the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
Arba’een is the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), some 14 centuries ago.
Local residents and witnesses said that Nigerian police began firing tear gas followed by live bullets as mourners and the supporters of the Shia Muslim group were marching from Kano to the city of Zaria in neighboring Kaduna State, where their detained leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, has his headquarters.
Ten members of the movement were reportedly arrested following the Sunday procession.
The raid occurred a day after Nigerian soldiers attacked a group of Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in the city of Zaria, accusing them of blocking the convoy of the army’s chief of staff and attempting to “assassinate” him, which the Shia Muslims strongly denied.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission released a report, saying the Nigerian army killed 348 Muslims during the attack on the religious ceremony.
Source:Press TV