The Kaduna police command says it has banned all forms of “unlawful gathering by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) including its planned Ashura procession”.
Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the command, announced the ban in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The command has banned every manner of illegal protest in the state,” the statement reads.
“This is coming on the heels of a received intelligence indicating that the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shi’ite are planning a procession to mark the 2024 Islamic Ashura day ceremony
“It is an undeniable fact that the said ritual practice has in the recent past been characterised by unimaginable violence leading to the destruction of properties, injuries to persons and even loss of lives.
“It is against this backdrop that the Police command is warning the said sect members, who were since proscribed by law, to drop such a procession idea.”
Hassan said the command would “bring the full weight of the law to bear on any person or group who violates the ban”.
He added that Ali Dabigi, Kaduna commissioner of police, has called on all law abiding persons to go about their lawful endeavours without fear.
