Nigerian Police Pull Back from Shi’a Gathering

Nigerian police and soldiers have withdrawn from their positions at Zango Road, Kaduna. On Tuesday they surrounded a gathering of Shi’a Muslims, just days after the government outlawed the group.

Sources say that some Shi’a members were trapped inside a compound but have now dispersed. No clashes or arrests occurred. According to one witness, the scene “is calm now…The security people ensured there was no trouble.”

The Shi’a members had come together to commemorate historical events associated with the Islamic month of Muharram. According to the group:

“Shortly before the Kaduna Markaz mosque on Zango Road was encircled by armoured military vehicles carrying heavily armed soldiers and also an ambulance were among a convoy of 18 military vehicles seen nearby.”

A statement made by the UK-based Islamic Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, called on the Nigerian government to withdraw the soldiers and allow the worshippers to continue to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of assembly and worship.

After being asked for his opinion on the security risks, one leader of the group said: “We will do our procession. The worst they can do is to kill people”.