IMN denies police claims of violence in Kaduna protest
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has strongly refuted allegations by the Kaduna State Police Command that its members were responsible for violent activities during a recent protest in the state.
According to the Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, the IMN allegedly hijacked the peaceful protest, turning it violent with the burning of tires and throwing of stones at the Kaduna State Government House.
Hassan claimed that IMN members were trying to invade the Government House, and reported that their actions led to injuries among police officers and damage to a police vehicle.
Hassan stated, “The intelligence we gather now is that we have seen a lot of IMN members. We received information about their movement and you know they are proscribed organisations.
Since they were proscribed, they are looking for any advantage to create any violence.”
However, Mustapha Muhammed, a source close to IMN leadership in Zaria, dismissed these claims. Muhammed, who observed the protests, reported that IMN members were not present.
He stated, “I didn’t see any IMN members during these protests in all the places I have covered. It is common people that participated in it.”
He further explained that IMN members do not engage in violence during their own processions unless provoked by security agencies.
“IMN members never throw stones at security agencies even during our Muzahara (processions) until they are attacked by the security agencies.
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This end hunger protest is purely organised by the people of Kaduna, and IMN members didn’t participate,” Muhammed added.
According to reports, it was confirmed that during the protest, at least one police officer was injured, and an armored personnel carrier was damaged by the protesters.
The dispute between the police and IMN highlights ongoing tensions in Kaduna as protests continue, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts of the events.
Proofreading, editing by Sakinat Musa Abubakar and Maryam Sulaiman, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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