Zaria Clash: Death toll rises to 35 in Shiites sect, soldiers clash
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The Shiites were on a procession to celebrate Quds Day and protest against Israeli forces operations in Gaza.
Eyewitnesses said there was an exchange of fire between soldiers and members of the Sect from Friday afternoon, till the early hours of Saturday, resulting in the death of at least 35 sect members and the arrest of many others.
Sources said, three out of the 35 persons killed, were the sons of Sheik El-Zakzaky.
Vanguard gathered that trouble started when the sect members, on approaching a military check-point, were ordered by the soldiers to take another route in view of the insecurity in the State. It was said that the protesters rebuffed the order, and in the process, a misunderstanding ensued.
This development, according to eyewitnesses, resulted in soldiers firing warning shots into the air to scare the protesters. The sect members were undeterred, surged forward and pelt the soldiers with stones.
However, addressing a press conference, Saturday, on the incident, the leader of the sect, Sheik El-zakzaky said, “I am appealing to my followers to be patient and remain calm, and after the burial of those killed, we will decide what action to take. I have communicated with the necessary authorities, and they are all claiming not to be aware of the operation. It is my belief that the operation is ordered from Abuja.”
The Kaduna State Police Spokesperson, SP Aminu Lawan told Vanguard that the incident has nothing to do with the police, saying, “I advise you to ‘reach’ the Nigerian Army.”
Efforts to get the military authorities to speak on the incident proved abortive, but a source said the Army is investigating the incident.
culled from Vanguard
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