Policeman killed as Police, Shiite members clash in Kaduna
The expected appearance of the leader, of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheik El-Zazaky in court Friday, has sparked off another round of protests in Kaduna city by his members.
The protest of Thursday in the city centre by the IMN members resulted in a serious clash with the Nigeria Police Force which led to the alleged death of a policeman.
Eyewitness report has it that the slain police officer was killed along the busy Ahmadu Bello Way, which led to the road being deserted as people scampered for safety.
The Katsina Roundabout to Leventist Roundabout, which usually is a beehive of activities, was deserted.
Shops were locked while people turned back home for fear of being caught in the middle.
However, a detachment of heavily armed military team has since been deployed to the affected areas, patrolling between Leventist and Katsina Roundabout highway.
Fears of a likely clash was noticed in the early hours of Friday following the blockage mounted by armed policemen in certain strategic areas.
Daily Independent, referring to accounts by sources, reported that policemen had Friday morning blocked many routes leading to the Kaduna High Court located few metres away from the Kaduna Convict Prisons.
Major routes such as the Independence Way, Yakubu Gowon Way and the Muhammadu Buhari Way, which has the Kaduna State Secretariat of NUJ, were all blocked with commuters forced to ply other routes.
A Keke operator, Sadiq Usman, reportedly said that it was a scary day for him as he had to abandon his tricycle and run for his dear life when he heard sporadic gunshots around the Lagos Street Roundabout.
Asked to confirm who exactly was firing the gunshots, he retorted by saying “who wants to confirm such a thing”.
According to Usman, his first thoughts was his immediate safety and not who was shooting.
Efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Muktar Aliyu, proved abortive as his phone rang without response.
However, when contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Austin Iwar, reportedly said that the police would issue a press statement.
