The Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Kaduna State Police Command, on Sunday, exchanged words over a clash in Kaduna State.

While the IMN accused the police and the Kaduna State government of killing seven Shi’ites and injuring many during a pro-Palestinian protest in Kaduna, the police insisted that the Shi’ites were the offenders, adding that no live ammunition was used.

The IMN, in a petition to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accused the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, and the state Commissioner of Police, Ali Dabigi, of extrajudicial killing of its members.

The petition, dated April 23, 2024, and signed by Resource Forum of Islamic Movement, Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Danladi, was also copied to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and the Chairman Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase.

The petition, sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, was titled: “Petition Against Mr Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, and the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna for Arbitrary Extrajudicial Killing of Seven and Wounding Over 30 Peaceful Protesters on 5th of April, 2024 in Kaduna and Zaria.”

But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, in a phone interview with The PUNCH, described the allegations against his principal as “baseless, unfounded, and aimed at stirring up unnecessary tension” in the state.

Also refuting the claim, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hasan, denied the allegations of killing any of the IMN members.

He said three of their officers sustained injuries following an attack from the Shi’ite members, adding that the injured officers had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The police spokesperson said, “We got the information that the members of the proscribed IMN were going to hold a massive protest in the state and the command deployed its men to most of the strategic places to stop them from blocking the road, especially Ahmadu Bello Way Kaduna.

“On sighting our men deployed there, the IMN members started throwing stones, firing catapults, and locally made guns against our men which led to three of our men sustaining injuries and now receiving treatment at a police clinic.”

He said the police used teargas to disperse them, which also led to the arrest of eight suspects.

He listed the items recovered from the suspects to include three locally-fabricated guns, catapults and other dangerous locally-made weapons.

“If they claimed four of their members were killed, where are the bodies and which hospital were they taken to? How can we identify them? Our men didn‘t use live ammunition but only used teargas to disperse them.”

The IMN sect, in its petition, alleged that policemen “opened fire with live ammunition on peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters in Kaduna and Zaria on 5th April 2024.”

It said, “The conflict in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel is a worldwide event that dominates the world and takes over the United Nations activities since October 2023.

“This event gave rise to worldwide protests against the killings of innocent civilian in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defence Forces.

“Protests have been going on non-stop in USA, UK, France, Germany and other European Nations, including Israel itself.

“In Nigeria, such protests have been going on in several states, including Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Rivers and the FCT Abuja.

“The last Friday of the month of Ramadan was designated as International Quds Day and it is observed world over.

“The event had been conducted in Nigeria for the past 40 years. This year’s International Quds Day was observed world over on 5th April 2024, including Nigeria where it was observed in more than 30 cities, including Kaduna and Zaria.

“All the processions in all the states were carried out without any event, it was peaceful throughout, including in Lagos, Rivers and Abuja.

“Unfortunately, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police decided to use his force and attack peaceful procession.

“Thus, he ordered the policemen to open fire with live bullets in broad daylight on unarmed peaceful protesters. This led to the killing of seven persons.

“We see the actions of Kaduna State Governor and the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State as arbitrary, unconstitutional and in breach of the ethics of the Nigerian Police.”

The sect argued that the Nigerian Constitution provided for and protects the rights of every Nigerian citizen, which includes rights to life, rights to peaceful demonstrations, among others.

“If the actions of the duo are left unchecked, the image of Nigeria will be tarnished in the eyes of the citizens and the international community.

“It is consequent to these that we forward this petition to you to take the necessary action on the Kaduna State Governor and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ali Audu Dabigi for the breach of citizens’ constitutional rights.

“We look forward to your prompt response.”

Refuting the allegation against the Kaduna governor, however, his media aide, said,

“The Kaduna State Government, under the able and dynamic leadership of Senator Uba Sani, values human life and upholds the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest. However, it also recognises the need to maintain law and order, and will not condone any actions that threaten public safety.

“The Kaduna State Government remains committed to protecting the rights and security of all citizens.”