The police and Governor Sani have denied the allegation
The Shiite Movement has submitted a petition to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the National Assembly, accusing the police and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani of killing its members.
In the April 23 petition, addressed to Mr. Ribadu, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Shiites alleged that on April 5, police operatives shot and killed seven of their members during a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest in Kaduna.
However, the police and Governor Sani have denied the allegation. According to the petition signed by Professor Abdullahi Danladi, head of the Shiites’ Resource Forum of Islamic Movement, the police attack on the protesters was carried out at the behest of Governor Sani.
The petition, titled ‘Petition Against Mr. Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, and the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna for Arbitrary Extra-Judicial Killing of Seven and Wounding Over 30 Peaceful Protesters on April 5, 2024, in Kaduna and Zaria,’ stated that the Shiites were protesting in solidarity with Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
“This event gave rise to worldwide protests against the killings of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defence Forces,” the petition said.
The sect said protests had been going on in the United States, the UK, France and other European countries to register their displeasure about the wanton destruction of lives and property in Gaza.
The group said it was also marking the last Friday of the month of Ramadan as the International Quds Day as it was being observed world over on 5 April.
It said 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.”
The event was commemorated in several states across Nigeria peacefully, except in Kaduna State where “the Commissioner of Police decided to use his force and attacked a peaceful procession,” the sect said.
“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 Kaduna State as arbitrary, unconstitutional and in breach of the ethics of the Nigerian Police,” the petition read in part.
The Shi’ites urged the NSA and the National Assembly “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.”
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