Tension erupted yesterday in Kaduna State as two members of the Shiite movement were reportedly killed by irate youths as the group tried to rebuild its school destroyed near Zango Road, Tudun Wada.
According to eye-witnesses of the incident, about ten other members sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack.
This latest attack has caused panic in the affected communities as many residents of Tudun Wada, Ungwan Muazu, Kinkinau fearing for their safety remained indoors while those caught up along Nnamdi Azikwe Way and other streets scampered for safety.
Bala Zango, a shop owner along Zango Road, described the scene as frightening as hundreds of youths were advancing towards Ungwan Muazu, an area in Kaduna where many Shiites reside, to hunt for them.
“We heard that, two persons suspected to be members of the Shiite were dead,” Zango said. “It’s very scary because at the end of the day, it’s the innocent people that will fall victim”, he added.
According to some eye-witnesses, Awwal Maikyau, the Special Adviser on Youth to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, was attacked as he attempted to mediate.
A family member confirmed the attack on the Governor’s aide. “Awwal Yaro Maikyau, the Governor’s adviser on youths affairs whose house is close to the scene of the incident, was also attacked while trying to mediate between them and the irate youths”.
Some of the Shiites members who spoke with the media said they were attacked as they tried to rebuild their school destroyed in last Tuesday’s attack.
“Some thugs came to attack us with weapons, insisting that we must be evicted completely from the place,” one member said.
“Police arrived the scene and went with some of our members and some community members for settlement.
“As they left, 10 of our Shiite members were macheted. It was rumoured that one person died, but we are still making inquiries to confirm.
“This is the danger behind playing politics with religion,” the member said.
The police spokesperson, Aliyu Usman, who was contacted said the police were monitoring the situation.
“Please be patient, we are monitoring the situation, we shall get back to you later,” he said.
