News

15 Shiites Killed During Ashura Procession In 19 States, IMN Claims

Published

7 years ago

September 11, 2019

Islamic Movement in Nigeria has confirmed the killing of 15 Shi’a Muslims during yesterday’s Ashura processions by the sect across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement by IMN’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said three persons died in Kaduna, six in Bauchi, another three in Gombe, two in Sokoto, and one in Katsina during the processions.
According to Musa, the 15 Shi’ites were killed by armed policemen who allegedly attacked the worshippers in a bid to disperse them during the sect’s street demonstrations.
He said, “These casualty figures may, however, rise due to the fatal gunshot wounds sustained by some of the peaceful mourners.
“Today’s (Tuesday) show of shame and rage by the police across the states was sequel to the tragic orders given to it by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to brutally attack the peaceful Ashura mourners.”
It was gathered, however, that the Ashura processions ended peacefully in the cities of Abuja, Jos, Kebbi, Minna, Lafia, Yola, Gusau, Zaria, Kano, Jalingo, Damaturu, Hadejia and Potiskum.
Speaking further, the IMN Spokesman said: “That the Ashura mourning procession ended peacefully in places not attacked by the police is sufficient evidence as to who the instigators of violence are whenever we are carrying out our legitimate religious duties.
“We are grateful to Allah the Almighty that has granted us the courage to come out in several cities and villages across the country to commemorate the brutal killing of Imam Hussein (AS), the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S) as it is done in several cities across the globe, despite intimidation and threats by the Federal Government and its agents, acting on behalf of the Saudis by proxy.”
Three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) were killed in the early hours of yesterday as police dispersed a procession of members of the group to commemorate Ashura day.
The Shiites are demanding the release of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention for alleged murder since December, 2015.
It was gathered that about one hundred members of the group had gathered at Hayin Danmani Junction along Nnamdi Azikiwe Bypass in Kaduna where they were to proceed on the procession.
Members of the IMN came out at about 6 am, ostensibly to beat the police who had earlier vowed to enforce the ban on public procession in Kaduna State.
Halfway into the procession, it was gathered that a detachment of policemen tried to disperse the gathering, leading to a clash between them and members of the group.
It was gathered that at the end of the encounter, three members of the group were killed while about ten others sustained various degrees of injuries.
However, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Yakubu Sabo, said no casualty was recorded as the police “dispersed the protesters professionally”.
He claimed that it has become the standard practice by members of the IMN to claim that police killed their members even when such incidence did not take place.
The IMN popularly known as Shiites, have defied the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, not to hold further protest in the country.
Adamu had in a statement cautioned the group to withdraw it planned protest, noting that the activities of IMN remained proscribed in line with the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice of July 26.
He said that the procession is targeted at disrupting public peace, order and security in the country.
Adamu directed the commissioners of police in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to avert any planned procession and/or disruption of public peace by IMN members.
He equally directed all supervisory assistant inspectors general of police to put in place concrete measures to prevent the procession.
But the group, yesterday, defied his order and stormed the streets of Wuse, in Abuja, to carry out its Ashura mourning procession.
The Ashura procession is an annual religious ritual carried out by the Shia Islamic sect all over the world on September 10.
Recall that the group had on Monday said that noting would prevent it from holding its peaceful protest, yesterday.
In Bauchi State, there was tension as many scampered to safety when the Nigeria Police Force in the state clashed with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
The incident was said to have occurred about 10am, yesterday at the Central Market Roundabout and Tashan Babiye area of Bauchi, the state capital.
The police reportedly fired teargas and gunshots to disperse the protesters causing people to scamper to safety.
Most shops in the popular Central Market were shut as traders immediately closed their shops and ran for their lives.
Although there has not been any detail of deaths from the incident, eyewitnesses say that several people were injured.
An eyewitness, who refused to be mentioned, said that many of the Shiites were arrested and by the police.
He said: “Early in the morning, the Shiites gathered to embark on their usual procession, but the Police blocked the road and fired teargas to disperse them.
“They (police) also fired gunshots and many were injured. Several others were arrested and taken away in police vehicles to the hospital. I heard that the Shiites also threw stones at the police, although I didn’t witness that part, I was only told.
Another eyewitness, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Bauchi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Mallam-Goje, was also caught in the incident.
He told newsmen that he also suffered from the teargas that was fired by the police around Tashan Babiye around Bakin Kura area.
“Actually, I came out of my house and was on my way to the office this morning when I ran into the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who were carrying out their procession.
“You know they were protesting today being the 10th day of Muharam, the new month of the Islamic Calendar. Without my knowledge that the Police were there and as I arrived there, the Police teargassed the entire area and all the people there were affected, including myself, we were affected by the teargas,” he said.
Also in Potiskum, Yobe State, members of the IMN, yesterday, observed their annual Ashura procession.
Potiskum is one of the strongholds of the Shiites in the north apart from Kaduna, which is the headquarters of the movement.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that the procession, which was led by the leader of the group in Potiskum, Malam Ibrahim Lawan, started at Misau road at Yaro Damboa junction through other streets in Potiskum and terminated at Ari-Kime junction where the Shiites dispersed to their homes.
A huge crowd of followers, including women and children, were sighted during the procession which was carried out without any breach of law and order.
No incident of violence was recorded during the procession as the security came after the procession was already winded up.
The spokesman of the group in Potiskum, Ibraheem El–Tafseer in told newsmen that the procession in the state was successful.

News

NDLEA Arrests Four Notorious Female Drug Dealers In Four States

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four notorious female drug dealers in Edo, Imo, Kano, and Gombe states.

The Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that in Edo, an intense sweep of notorious drug hotspots within Benin City by NDLEA operatives on June 2 led to the arrest of four key traffickers, including three females.

“At Uyosa, Benin City, two female suspects were nabbed with a cocktail of illicit substances, including 176 grams of skunk, 65g of Loud, and 5 grams of Methamphetamine.

“Along Agbor road in Benin City, another female suspect, 21-year-old Anita Abraham, was apprehended with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.

“At Upper Mission, Benin City, a male suspect was arrested with a diverse cache of psychotropic substances consisting of Loud, Colorado, Swinol, and Methamphetamine.

“A swift operation by operatives in Kano State on Thursday, June 4, led to the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan at the Kafi area of Madobi, with 40 blocks of skunk weighing a total of 38 kilograms,” NDLEA said.

In a related development, Babafemi said, operatives in Gombe state intercepted a 28-year-old suspect on June 1 near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of Gombe.

“The suspect was caught with 15,000 capsules of tramadol,” he said.

He said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands and formations equally continued across the country in the past week.

Reacting to the string of successful operations, the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers, men and women of the Imo, Edo, Kano, and Gombe commands for their resilience and vigilance.

Marwa also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

He re-emphasised that the agency remains fully committed to dismantling drug supply chains and would continue to target traffickers regardless of age, gender, or concealment methods.

News

Navy Intercepts Over 135,000 Litres Of Stolen AGO In Rivers

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy says its operatives under Operation Delta Sentinel have intercepted over 135,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during separate operations in Rivers State waterways.

Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations were carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder around the Onne and Abonema axis.

He said the seizures were made during routine patrols aimed at curbing crude oil theft and illegal fuel transportation across creeks in the state.

In one of the operations, naval personnel intercepted a fibre boat at the entrance of Owogono Creek in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area carrying drums and jerrycans filled with suspected stolen AGO.

According to him, the occupants abandoned the boat and fled into nearby creeks, while the vessel and about 63,000 litres of product were recovered.

In another operation around Abonema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, patrol teams intercepted a wooden boat conveying about 72,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sacks.

The Navy said the products were being transported through waterways for onward distribution before the operation disrupted the movement.

Folorunsho said the recoveries highlight the continued exploitation of creek networks by criminal elements for illegal petroleum product transportation.

He added that all recovered items were handled in line with established procedures on anti-crude oil theft operations.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks and protecting Nigeria’s maritime economic assets.

News

PERM SEC Tasks PUBLIC SERVANTS TO EMBRACE ACCOUNTABILITY

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo mni, has charged public servants to embrace accountability and prudent management of public resources, stressing that government funds must be utilised responsibly.

Dr. Sirawoo made the assertion during the 41st anniversary of The Rivers State Television (RSTV), in Elelenwo.

He noted that public service demands commitment and sacrifice, urging workers to justify the opportunities entrusted to them through diligengence and productivity.

“All I try to do is to see that we have value for every kobo that we spend and value for our time.

“Government has a social responsibility to provide opportunities, but when you have one, you must guard it through hard work and ensure your presence is justified,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary further appealed to workers to see themselves as ambassadors of their respective institutions, adding that government remains committed to creating employment opportunities and improving public service delivery.

Also speaking, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr (Mrs.) Christiana Atako, praised the station’s professionalism and consistency despite operational challenges.

“We have never been disappointed. In spite of all the challenges RSTV had at that time, they never failed us. They carried our stories very well,” she said.

Dr Atako encouraged staff members to continually improve themselves through training, education and professional development in order to remain competitive in the evolving media industry.

Earlier, Acting General Manager of RSTV, Ambassador Paul Damgbor, described the anniversary celebration as an opportunity to reflect on the station’s journey of over four decades and appreciate those who have contributed to its development.

Pastor Damgbor said that the station had recorded remarkable improvements in recent months through the acquisition of digital cameras, computers as well as upgrades in audio and visual production facilities.

“We have seen great change. We were able to get new brand digital cameras and improve on our audio. We have also provided new computers for key departments, including News, Programmes and the Library,” Damgbor remarked.

He also unveiled a commemorative magazine chronicling the history and achievements of the station, describing it as a valuable reference material for preserving RSTV’s heritage.

The Acting General Manager, however, expressed concern over the theft of critical equipment from the station’s transformer, a development he said had forced the organisation to rely heavily on generator power supply.

The Senior Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunma, who gave a short charge during the event, urged media practitioners to uphold the ethics of journalism and remain committed to accuracy in reporting.

“You are pressmen. You are okay to doubt, but verify,” he advised, stressing the importance of credibility and responsibility in the profession.

He equally highlighted the need to “ask the help of God, sow a seed of help, and step into something as if you have help” stressing the need to move by faith for growth.

Some participants at the event also raised concerns about employment opportunities while commending RSTV’s growth and contributions to public enlightenment in Rivers State.

A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of an award to the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications in recognition of its diligence and service to the people of the state. Dr Honour Sirawoo also received a special award for his contributions to the growth and development of RSTV.

Awards were equally presented to outstanding members of staff of RSTV for exemplary performance and their dedication to duty.

The event also featured the unveiling and launch of the RSTV commemorative magazine as well as a tour of the station’s newly built cafeteria and other facilities.

The celebration marked another milestone in the station’s 41-year history and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in public broadcasting.